(DUBAI, UAE) — Airspace closures triggered by the Iran-Israel conflict stranded thousands of Indian nationals across the UAE and the wider Gulf region, as Indian missions urged people to avoid unnecessary travel and follow local safety guidelines.
Authorities temporarily shut major aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, a disruption that led to over 1,000 flight cancellations and affected nearly 90,000 passengers daily. Many travelers found themselves stuck mid-journey, while others could not depart as planned.
Indian travelers have faced particular exposure to the disruption, as the UAE received approximately 86 lakh (8.6 million) Indian visitors in 2025. Indians form the largest diaspora group in the region.
The scale of the Indian community in the UAE shapes the impact of any regional travel shock. Indians comprise about 35 percent of the UAE’s population, with an estimated 43 lakh (4.3 million) resident nationals as of 2024.
Indian populations elsewhere in the conflict-affected geography add to the broader risk picture. Over 100,000 Indians reside in Israel and more than 10,000 in Iran.
Government channels have recorded a smaller subset of cases in which individuals formally sought help, even as the wider number of stranded travelers runs into the thousands. At least 109 people have officially sought assistance through government channels—100 in Dubai and nine in Bahrain.
Some of the documented cases involved travelers from specific parts of India. A total of 61 persons from Marathwada in Maharashtra are stuck in Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Accounts from Maharashtra extended beyond those 61 people. Hundreds from Maharashtra more broadly have been stranded across Gulf countries.
The regional closures and flight cancellations have affected several common travel patterns for Indian nationals, including tourism and short-term visits through Dubai, as well as movement between Gulf states. With key hubs periodically shut, routings through Dubai and Abu Dhabi became difficult to execute, leaving some passengers unable to reach final destinations or return to India.
In the UAE, Indian missions and support centers publicized contact routes for those who remain stranded or need urgent help. The Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (Indian Assistance Center) offered a 24/7 toll-free number, 800-46342, for calls within the UAE.
PBKS also listed a WhatsApp contact, +971-543090571, and an email address, [email protected]. The details were shared as part of a wider effort to centralize requests for help during the disruption.
The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi listed its main phone numbers as +971-2-4492700 and +971-2-4447729. For emergencies, it provided a 24/7 emergency mobile, 00971-508995583.
The embassy also published specialized lines for sensitive situations. It listed a death emergency mobile, 00971-564038863, and a contact for female domestic workers in distress, 00971-502103813.
For those seeking in-person assistance, the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi gave its address as Plot No. 10, Sector W-59/02, Diplomatic Area, Off-Airport Road, PO Box No. 4090, Abu Dhabi. It also provided an email address, [email protected].
In Dubai, the Consulate General of India provided its main phone numbers as +971-4-3971222 and +971-4-3971333. It listed a 24/7 emergency mobile as 00971-507347676.
The Dubai consulate also shared a dedicated emergency contact for housemaids in distress, 00971-504559594. It listed its address as Al Hamaria Diplomatic Enclave, PO Box 737, Dubai.
Indian missions across other Gulf countries and nearby states circulated emergency lines as well, reflecting the spread of Indian travel and work routes across the region. In Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), the listed 24/7 helpline was 00-966-11-4884697.
The Saudi Arabia contacts also included a WhatsApp-only number, 00-966-542126748, and a toll-free number, 800-247-1234. The details were published alongside other emergency routes for nationals seeking assistance.
In Qatar (Doha), the Indian mission listed a 24/7 helpline, 00974-55647502. It also provided an email address, [email protected].
In Bahrain, the published 24/7 helpline was 00973-39418071. The number was included among the emergency resources shared for Indians across West Asia.
In Israel (Tel Aviv), the Indian mission listed two 24/7 helplines: +972-54-7520711 and +972-54-2428378. It also provided an email address, [email protected].
In Iran (Tehran), the published 24/7 emergency numbers were +989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102, and +989932179359. The set of contacts came as Indian nationals across the region monitored developments tied to the Iran-Israel conflict.
Alongside immediate contact details, Indian authorities in India also pointed residents to registration channels for help. Karnataka residents can register on the Centre’s Sarathi Sahay portal or contact helplines 080-22340676 and 080-22253707 for assistance.
While much attention has focused on delayed flights and disrupted travel, the published guidance also addressed protections relevant to workers in the UAE, including those who might find themselves stranded due to the same broader regional instability. Under Article 15(3) of UAE Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021, employers are required to bear all costs of preparing and transporting the corpse of a deceased worker to their home country or place of residence if the family requests it.
The provision appeared in the same set of public information meant to help Indians understand what support systems and obligations apply in emergencies. It sits alongside the emergency lines that specifically mention domestic workers in distress, a category of cases that consular officials often handle through dedicated channels.
The advisories issued through Indian missions across West Asia focused on basic precautions amid the conflict-linked disruption. Embassies urged nationals to avoid unnecessary travel, remain vigilant, and follow safety guidelines issued by local authorities.
Local community and religious sites also took visible precautions, reflecting a wider sense of uncertainty around regional conditions and transport continuity. The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi temporarily closed to visitors until March 9 as a precautionary measure, though prayers continue inside.
The combination of large-scale flight cancellations and the depth of the Indian presence in the UAE has created a situation in which relatively small operational changes can affect large numbers of people quickly. Dubai’s role as a transit hub means disruptions do not stop at the UAE’s borders, and travelers moving between Gulf states can also end up stranded.
The official figures on requests for help offered a partial snapshot of need. The 109 people who sought assistance through government channels—100 in Dubai and nine in Bahrain—stood alongside reports of larger groups from Maharashtra, including the 61 people from Marathwada stuck across Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, and hundreds more stranded across Gulf countries.
For Indian nationals seeking immediate assistance in the UAE, the numbers and emails published by PBKS, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, and the Consulate General in Dubai formed the core contact points, with separate 24/7 lines listed for emergencies and domestic worker distress. Elsewhere in the region, dedicated helplines in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, and Iran signaled the breadth of the contingency network as the Iran-Israel conflict continued to disrupt air routes and leave travelers stranded.
