Israel to Evacuate Citizens Stranded in Dubai After Flydubai Flight Halt

Israel's Civil Aviation Authority has tasked leading Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir with organizing an emergency operation to bring hundreds of Israeli citizens home from Dubai. The travelers, including families with children, became stranded after the sudden suspension of flights by Flydubai, reportedly due to security concerns in the airspace. El Al is preparing to launch its first repatriation flight on Friday, with Arkia aiming to complete its flights over the weekend. Israir is still finalizing its schedule.

Passengers will need to purchase new tickets for these flights at their own expense. El Al has announced a fixed "light" fare of $249, which includes carry-on baggage. Passengers are expected to be reimbursed later for their canceled Flydubai tickets, as well as for accommodation and food expenses incurred during their unexpected stay.

The evacuation logistics involve flying empty planes from Tel Aviv to Dubai to pick up stranded citizens. However, the operation's commencement is contingent on final approval from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), which has previously restricted Israeli airlines from flying to the UAE due to security threats. Following the incident, the UAE has reportedly agreed to meet Israel's stringent security demands. This development follows discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, paving the way for potential long-term flight stability after security procedures are concluded.