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Flights from UAE to Korea expected from Friday, foreign minister says

Published: 06 Mar. 2026, 12:52

Travelers return from the Middle East through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on March 5. [YONHAP]

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Friday that commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to begin arriving in Korea as early as Friday, a move that will help Korean citizens stranded in the Middle Eastern country return home.

Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary session as Seoul is taking all available steps to bring home some 3,000 nationals stranded in the UAE due to flight disruptions amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States.

"Last night, I spoke with the UAE foreign minister over the phone and asked that commercial flights from the UAE be allowed to fly directly to Incheon," he said. "Air services are expected to begin as early as today."

Cho announced that the government is making arrangements to dispatch a chartered plane to the region to evacuate Koreans.

As many as 21,000 nationals are currently estimated to be staying across 10 Middle Eastern countries.

Passenger planes from airlines including Emirates and Qatar Airways stand on the apron at Incheon International Airport on March 5. [YONHAP]

Seoul had considered sending chartered flights to Muscat, the capital of Oman, as major airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi faced flight restrictions due to Iran's attacks.

With the UAE's support, Korean airlines will be able to operate flights to and from the UAE to bring back the stranded nationals, Cho said.

Incheon-bound UAE flights are set to operate once a day, he added.

Yonhap