Wealthy Escape Middle East on Costly Private Jets as 1 Million Tourists Remain Stranded

Over 11,000 Flights Canceled, Affecting 1 Million Travelers
Dubai Faces Widening Isolation as Cruise Ships Remain Stranded

As a result of airstrikes in the Middle East, thousands of flights have been canceled en masse, leaving travelers stranded in major cities such as Dubai. Some wealthy individuals have begun to "escape" by employing private security firms and chartering private jets to move to neighboring countries, with charter jet fares reportedly soaring to as much as three times the usual rates.

Planes parked at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to a March 3 report by Yonhap News citing The New York Times (NYT), aviation data company Cirium found that since the start of the airstrikes on February 28, at least 11,000 flights in the Middle East have been canceled, directly affecting around one million travelers. In particular, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-a major tourist destination-continues to experience chaos due to flight cancellations.

The Guardian reported that although Dubai authorities instructed hotels to extend the stays of stranded travelers under existing conditions, some hotels have been demanding additional fees, fueling dissatisfaction and ongoing confusion on the ground. The New York Times also assessed that this situation is damaging the reputation of the UAE, long considered a "safe travel destination" in the Middle East.

According to foreign media, at least six cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers are currently anchored at ports near the Gulf, with passengers remaining onboard. Some wealthy residents in Dubai have hired private security firms to travel overland to neighboring countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia, and then leave for overseas destinations.

The Guardian also reported that dozens of large SUVs are being used to transport clients from Dubai to Muscat, Oman-about four hours and thirty minutes away-and to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is approximately ten hours away.

As demand for escape among the wealthy has surged, the price of chartered private jets has also skyrocketed. Private jet brokerage JetVip stated that the fare for a small charter jet from Muscat to Istanbul, T?rkiye, is now 85,000 euros (about 146 million won), nearly three times the usual rate. Another company, Al-Bajet, offered a fare of 90,000 euros (about 154 million won) for flights to Europe. The price of charter jets from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Europe reportedly soared to as much as 350,000 dollars (about 513 million won).

Industry insiders have cited a sharp decline in supply, as safety concerns have led to the avoidance of some charter flights, as the main reason for the dramatic price increases.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has faced strong criticism after it was revealed that he returned home alone using a government aircraft, while hundreds of Italian nationals remained stranded in Dubai. He was reportedly on vacation in Dubai with his family at the time the United States launched its attack on Iran.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.