Update on the Implementation of an Operation for the Evacuation of Bulgarian Citizens from the Middle East Region and Iran

According to information from the Situation Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of 09:30 on 9 March 2026, within the framework of the operation, assistance has been provided and continues to be provided to more than 2,600 Bulgarian citizens who have left countries in the Middle East region and Iran.

For the United Arab Emirates:

Via flights organised by the Crisis Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism – 1,258 persons; 

Via tour operators – 876 persons.

For all flights organised by the Government or by private companies, on-site assistance was provided by the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Dubai.

A total of 6 flights to the United Arab Emirates were carried out, organised by the Government (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism, with the assistance of the Ministry of Transport and Communications):

• A flight operated by the State Aviation Operator from Abu Dhabi with 85 persons on board on 05.03.2026 (organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• A special flight operated by GullivAir from Dubai with 326 persons on board on 05.03.2026 (organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• A special flight operated by Bulgaria Air from Dubai with 180 persons on board on 05.03.2026 (organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• A special flight operated by GullivAir from Dubai with 326 persons on board on 07.03.2026 (organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• A special flight from Dubai with 220 persons on board on 07.03.2026 (with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism)
• A special flight with 121 persons on board on 8.03.2026 (with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism).

Private companies operated a total of five flights at their own expense from the United Arab Emirates to Bulgaria: one flight by Bohemia carrying 174 persons; one flight by Bulgaria Air carrying 180 persons; and three flights by Fly Dubai, each with 174 persons on board.

According to information from the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Dubai, airports there are currently open and at least three major international air carriers are in operation. 

For Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia:

• Active preparations are underway for the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens via overland routes from Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, along three corridors towards Saudi Arabia. A special flight with a capacity of 180 seats is planned for 10 March from Riyadh to Sofia
  
  
• To date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organised the evacuation of a total of 49 Bulgarian citizens from Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia:
• Today (9 March), in the early morning hours, 15 Bulgarian citizens arrived in Athens from Doha on a flight operated by a partner country;
• 21 persons (14 from Bahrain, 6 from Saudi Arabia and 1 from Qatar) were evacuated on a flight operated by Austria from Riyadh to Vienna under the EU Civil Protection and Cooperation Mechanism;
• 13 persons were evacuated on a flight from Riyadh to Budapest organised by Hungary.

For Israel:

• With the assistance of the Embassy in Tel Aviv, a total of 18 Bulgarian citizens on short-term stays have so far been evacuated from Israel via overland routes.

• As of 8 March 2026, the phased reopening of the airspace for outbound commercial flights has commenced under specific conditions. At present, flights to various destinations from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv will be operated exclusively by Israeli airlines (El Al, Israir, Arkia, etc.). The Israeli authorities have introduced a restriction of a maximum of 100 passengers per flight.

For Lebanon:

• The development of the situation in Lebanon is being closely monitored, and readiness is in place to undertake appropriate measures. To date, 35 Bulgarian citizens have contacted the Embassy in Beirut and have been provided with information and recommendations regarding options for leaving Lebanon, including via the still-available commercial flights.

For Iran:

• The staff of the Embassy of Bulgaria in Tehran (a total of 10 persons – 6 staff members and 4 accompanying family members) was evacuated via an overland route to Baku. Eight of those evacuated have already returned to Bulgaria.

• The Embassy in Baghdad provided consular crisis assistance to a Bulgarian citizen who was evacuated from Iran via an overland route.

For Oman:

• On 5 March, 111 Bulgarian citizens returned from Oman on a flight operated by Bulgaria Air from Salalah (approximately 1,000 km from the capital, Muscat) to Sofia. A further 7 persons left Oman with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via individual routes.

For Jordan:

• A total of 130 Bulgarian tourists travelling with tour operator agencies received assistance from the Embassy of Bulgaria.

For Iraq:

• A total of 20 Bulgarian citizens have been evacuated overland via the borders with Turkey or Jordan. At present, there are no Bulgarian citizens remaining in Iraq requiring evacuation.