Austria’s Foreign Ministry is urging Austrian citizens, in light of the attacks in the Middle East and the Gulf region, to register their travel, remain in their accommodations, and follow the instructions of local authorities. According to spokesperson Clemens Mantl, 17,700 Austrians are currently in the region, of whom 2,600 are registered.
In the United Arab Emirates, 1,700 Austrian citizens are currently present. In consular assistance, particularly vulnerable individuals such as the sick and pregnant women are being prioritized. So far, 70 people have been evacuated, mainly by land to Oman. Authorities are currently assessing whether further departures are necessary and feasible. The crisis task force at the Foreign Ministry meets twice daily. In the coming days, a daily briefing on the situation will take place at 2:00 p.m.
Foreign Ministry: Travel Registration Important
A travel warning (security level 4) is currently in effect for Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Departure from these countries by air is currently not possible, with the exception of limited operations from Jordan and Lebanon. In Oman and Saudi Arabia, security level 3 applies. Airspace is open there, but flight connections are reduced.
The spokesperson urged Austrian citizens not to leave their accommodations—this also applies to those stranded at airports. Travel registration remains particularly important so that the Foreign Ministry knows who is in the region. Mantl reported a sharp increase in registrations.
The Austrian Armed Forces are not available to evacuate Austrians from the region “due to the aircraft situation,” the spokesperson said. Contact is being maintained with European partners. There are currently no regular flights operating from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, he emphasized. No one can predict how the situation will develop, when hostilities will cease, or when airspace closures will be lifted.
Rapper RAF Camora in Dubai
According to media reports and his own social media posts, Austrian rapper RAF Camora is currently in the Emirati metropolis of Dubai. “So far, thank God, everything is okay with us. We were right in the middle of it and moved to a safer location,” an Instagram story by the rapper was quoted Sunday by “Heute” and “oe24.” RAF Camora was referring to Iranian retaliatory attacks on the metropolis in the United Arab Emirates.
Early Monday morning, a special flight operated by the Lufthansa Group landed at Vienna International Airport from the Omani capital Muscat. The flight evacuated company personnel, including staff from Austrian Airlines, from the Gulf region. Austrian Airlines confirmed the report by the online aviation magazine “Austrian Wings” upon request.
No further special flights are currently planned, Austrian Airlines said. “Austrian Airlines is currently intensively reviewing possibilities and options to offer its passengers alternative travel arrangements. In this exceptional situation, concrete planning remains a major challenge,” the airline stated.
Foreign Ministry emergency number: +43 1 90115 4411
Travel registration website: https://auslandsregistrierung.bmeia.gv.at/
