Uzbek citizens stranded in UAE provided with temporary accommodation

The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in the United Arab Emirates has facilitated emergency hotel accommodations for citizens unable to return home due to recent flight cancellations in Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi.

Photo: Dunyo

As of March 2, a total of 93 Uzbek citizens were settled at the Hyatt Place Dubai. This group included 61 individuals who had been checked out of the hotel and found themselves in a difficult situation regarding temporary housing. An additional 27 citizens, who were previously asked to leave the Floria Hotel, were also provided with rooms. Furthermore, five Uzbek nationals found stranded on the streets were identified and moved to secure locations.

The relief efforts extended to other hospitality venues, with 39 citizens placed at the Hampton by Hilton Dubai. In the capital, Abu Dhabi, four individuals facing difficult social conditions were accommodated at the AG Hotel Abu Dhabi, where their health and safety are being closely monitored.

"Currently, all our citizens are being provided with the necessary practical and organizational assistance. Uzbekistan’s diplomatic missions in the UAE and relevant organizations are constantly monitoring the situation, and every request is being processed promptly," the official report stated.

The travel disruptions began on February 28, when Uzbekistan Airways flight HY334 from Dubai to Tashkent was cancelled. This was followed by the cancellation of flights HY333/334 on the Tashkent – Dubai – Tashkent route on March 1. These cancellations were necessitated by the closure of airspace due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

On March 2, a technical flight operated by Centrum Air departed Dubai for Tashkent without passengers. Reports indicate that Dubai airport authorities did not grant permission for the flight to transport passengers at that time.

In response to the crisis, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov to organize the efficient repatriation of compatriots currently in Gulf countries. Additional flights are being arranged to bring citizens back from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and other nations in the region.

As airports in these countries have partially resumed operations for aircraft departures, Uzbek airlines are collaborating with government authorities to coordinate and schedule evacuation flights.