Emirates Flight Brings Stranded Irish Citizens Home from Dubai

An Emirates flight carrying approximately 400 passengers departed Dubai for Dublin on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, offering relief to Irish citizens stranded in the Middle East due to widespread airspace closures. The flight is a significant development in the Irish government’s efforts to assist citizens affected by the escalating conflict in the region.

Disruptions and Evacuation Efforts

The conflict between Iran and the US and Israel has led to the closure of much of the airspace in the Middle East, causing major disruption to flights and leaving thousands of travelers stranded. An estimated 22,000-23,000 Irish citizens were in the Middle East region as of March 5, 2026, with approximately 2,000 seeking assistance to return home.

Flight Details and Passenger Numbers

The Emirates flight, EK162, departed Dublin for Dubai at 1:10 pm on Wednesday, carrying 80 Dubai residents. The return flight, EK165, departed Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 6:00 pm local time, arriving in Dublin Airport (DUB) later that evening. A second Emirates flight is scheduled to depart Dubai for Dublin on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 2:35 pm.

Government Response

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee announced the Emirates flight on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the airline would be in direct contact with passengers whose flights had been cancelled. The Irish government is also chartering a flight from Oman to bring home around 280 Irish citizens, prioritizing those in the UAE who are non-resident or vulnerable.

Flight Schedules

Emirates offers multiple flights from Dubai (DXB) to Dublin (DUB) daily, with flight durations of approximately 8 hours and 15-20 minutes, operated by Boeing 777 aircraft. Current flight schedules include departures from Dubai at 02:10, 07:05, and 14:35 local time.

Ongoing Assistance

The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged Irish citizens in the region to register their details and emphasized that registration does not automatically guarantee a seat on a repatriation flight.