Thousands of Nepali workers are currently stuck in the middle of a massive geopolitical firestorm in West Asia. If you've been following the news, you know the situation in the Persian Gulf has spiraled since late February 2024. Between missile exchanges and closed airspaces, the regular flight paths between Kathmandu and major Gulf hubs like Dubai and Dammam essentially evaporated. Now, the Nepal government is stepping in with special rescue flights to bring home those who’ve been left in limbo.
It isn't just a minor travel disruption. This is a full-blown repatriation effort driven by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) after weeks of suspended services. On April 2, 2026, the government confirmed that Nepal Airlines will operate specific "non-scheduled" flights to the UAE and Saudi Arabia starting April 3. Meanwhile, you can find similar events here: Kinetic Interception Dynamics in the Erbil Air Corridor.
The logic behind the emergency flight schedule
You don't just ground an entire region's air traffic for over a month without serious consequences. Regular flights to Dubai and Dammam have been suspended since February 28, 2026. This happened because the security situation in the Persian Gulf became too volatile for commercial carriers to guarantee safety. When Iran, the US, and Israel started trading blows, the risk of a civilian aircraft getting caught in the crossfire became a reality rather than a theory.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal led the charge to get these special flights approved. It wasn't an easy call. The government had to coordinate with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the national flag carrier to ensure these routes could even be insured. Most people don't realize that flying into a conflict zone requires massive behind-the-scenes work with insurance companies like Rastriya Beema Company Limited to cover the risks. To explore the full picture, we recommend the excellent analysis by The Washington Post.
The schedule is tight and targeted.
- April 3: Flight RA 229 leaves Kathmandu for Dubai at 23:15 local time.
- April 4: The return leg (RA 230) heads back to Kathmandu, landing early in the morning.
- April 5: Flight RA 241 heads to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, at 08:30, with the return flight RA 242 coming back the same day.
Why the rescue is harder than it looks
I've seen people asking why the government doesn't just send ten planes a day. Honestly, it's a matter of logistics and money. There are an estimated 1.7 million to 2 million Nepali citizens working across the Gulf. If the conflict truly explodes, Nepal doesn't have the fleet or the budget to bring everyone home at once.
Experts in Kathmandu have been blunt about this. Repatriating millions would cost billions of rupees. The government would basically have to gut its development budget—money meant for roads, schools, and hospitals—just to fund the fuel and landing fees. That’s why these current flights are being treated as a "facilitation" for those in the most urgent need, rather than a mass evacuation of the entire workforce.
There’s also the documentation nightmare. Thousands of workers are in the UAE or Saudi Arabia on visit visas or without updated work permits. When things go south, these "undocumented" workers are often the last to get help because they aren't on the official embassy radars.
The human cost of the Gulf deadlock
It’s not just about who’s flying out; it’s about what’s flying in. Just yesterday, a Kuwait Airways flight landed at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. It didn't just bring 291 passengers home. It also carried the bodies of nine Nepali citizens who died in Kuwait. While their deaths weren't directly linked to the current war, the image of those coffins arriving during a regional crisis hit home for a lot of families.
The psychological toll on the 1.7 million households in Nepal with relatives in the Gulf is immense. Every time a missile is reported over Riyadh or a base is hit in the UAE, phones in rural Nepal start ringing. The fear of losing a breadwinner is compounded by the fear of that breadwinner losing their job and returning home to a country that doesn't have enough work to go around.
What you should do if you are stranded
If you or a family member are currently in the UAE or Saudi Arabia and trying to get back, don't wait for a "regular" flight to appear on a booking site. They aren't coming back to the schedule anytime soon.
- Register with the Embassy: This is the most critical step. The government is prioritizing its passenger lists based on urgency—those with expired visas, medical issues, or lost jobs.
- Check the NAC Schedule Daily: These special flights are announced with very little lead time. You need to be ready to move within 24 hours.
- Keep your Paperwork Handy: Ensure your passport and any exit permits are in order. If you're undocumented, contact the embassy immediately to get a temporary travel document.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed an eight-member panel to study the long-term impact of this West Asian war. They’re trying to build a strategy for what happens if the situation doesn't improve by summer. For now, these three days of flights are a lifeline, but they're a drop in the bucket compared to the total number of people waiting for a way out.
If you have a ticket for the April 3 or April 5 flights, get to the airport early. Security screenings and processing are taking significantly longer than usual due to the emergency protocols. Stay in touch with the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) offices in Dubai and Dammam for real-time gate changes.
