JAKATA - The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Abu Dhabi (KBRI Abu Dhabi) together with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Dubai (KJRI Dubai) continue to facilitate repatriation flights for Indonesian citizens (WNI) who are still stranded since the closure of the airspace of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 28, 2026.
The Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE, Judha Nugraha, said that so far there are 41 Indonesian citizens who are still in Abu Dhabi and Dubai due to the cancellation of flights due to the security situation in the Middle East.
"The majority are transit passengers who will return to their home country or continue their journey to other countries," said Judha, quoted from Antara.
The Indonesian representative is coordinating with a number of airlines, including Etihad Airways and Emirates, to facilitate the return of Indonesian citizens. The scheme being explored is flights to the nearest international airport from Jakarta, such as Singapore and Bangkok, from both Abu Dhabi International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
From these cities, Indonesian citizens are expected to continue their journey to Indonesia via a continuation flight.
However, flight operations in the UAE are currently still limited. Airlines prioritize routes with large passenger numbers to accommodate the approximately 20,000 visitors who are also affected by the closure of airspace.
"The number of passengers heading to Jakarta is relatively small, so it requires special arrangements," explained Judha.
In addition to direct flights, the Indonesian Embassy is also studying the option of self-repatriation through land travel to Oman. This scheme allows Indonesian citizens to go to Muscat and continue their flight from Muscat International Airport which has been operating normally.
Another option being explored is repatriation through the umrah flight route by utilizing airports in Jeddah and Madinah which still serve international routes.
Judha emphasized that the government would continue to seek various alternatives so that Indonesian citizens could return to Indonesia safely. The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indonesian Consulate General in Dubai also carried out intensive communication with the affected Indonesian citizens to ensure that their needs were met while waiting for their return.
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