UK Government to charter flight for British nationals stuck in Dubai – as Iranian attacks continue after president’s apology to Gulf

The UK Government will charter a commercial flight from the United Arab Emirates to depart Dubai early next week, depending on the situation on the ground.

British citizens, their spouse or partner and children under 18 are entitled to register their interest for a fee.

The flight will be in addition to commercial routes operating outside the UAE.

The latest arrivals join more than 9,000 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread fighting began in the region.

Two repatriation flights for British nationals have so far landed on UK soil from Muscat, Oman, with a third set to depart on Saturday.

The first flight back into the country from Oman was delayed by several hours this week, leaving passengers ‘traumatised’ when they had to be grounded on Wednesday because the pilot was ‘overscheduled’.

Eyewitnesses claimed that people were having panic attacks, and some were desperately trying to return home to their loved ones due to delays.

Traveling via Cairo, Egypt, the plane finally arrived back in Stansted, Essex, at around 12.53am on Friday morning.

Picture: Passengers waiting to board their plane at Dubai airport this morning

The second plane took off from Muscat just hours after the first charter flight arrived in London and landed on Saturday.

The Foreign Office said all travelers must have a valid travel document and non-British dependents will need a valid visa or entry or stay permit issued for more than six months.

People will be contacted directly by the State Department to issue tickets, with priority given to vulnerable people such as those with urgent medical needs.

This came after a luxury residential skyscraper in Dubai was hit by debris from a suspected Iranian drone that was intercepted by the UAE.

Photos and images show smoke rising from 23 Marina towers, which have 88 floors and more than 280 units.

Iran has continued to launch missiles and drones at targets in the Gulf despite President Masoud Pezeshkian’s earlier apology, citing previous attacks, adding that the country ‘will no longer attack neighboring countries or launch missiles unless there is an attack on Iran from these countries’.

The Emirate had previously reported ‘missile and drone threats from Iran’.

Dubai Media Office confirmed that debris from a ‘successful response’ caused a ‘minor incident’ on the façade of the residential tower.

It was stated that the situation was under control and there were no injuries.

Dubai International Airport was also forced to close today and passengers were ordered off planes this morning after a suspected Iranian drone strike triggered a massive explosion near the complex.

British travelers were among those stranded as flights were grounded and terminals evacuated, with many scrambling to find a way out of the UAE.

Mike Linn, a British tourist from Edinburgh, said he arrived at the airport determined to leave despite the drone chaos.

Photographs and images show smoke rising from 23 Marina towers, which have 88 floors and more than 280 units.

“When we got back to the hotel we saw some stuff about it online and decided to come to the airport anyway,” said Mike, 51.

The 49-year-old, who was traveling with his wife Lisa, a clinical researcher, and two other couples, added: ‘We can’t wait to get home.

‘We were supposed to return on Tuesday, but various cancellations meant we were booked on various flights we didn’t intend to go on.

‘We have a 15-year-old and a 21-year-old child at home. ‘The 15-year-old will stay with his friends until we return.’

Explosions were reported near the airport at around 8am local time (4am GMT) and a fire was seen burning near the site.

In the video circulating online, a bullet can be seen heading towards the airport while a man behind the camera shouts “He’s coming, he’s coming to the airport.”

A few minutes later, a massive explosion occurs, sending thick clouds of smoke into the air. ‘Oh my God,’ he adds.

As the situation worsened, the couple tried to change their travel plans, Linn said.

‘We were supposed to fly back to Edinburgh but we managed to book flights to Heathrow yesterday,’ he said.

‘Then when we got to the airport I saw a post on Twitter from Emirates saying flights were canceled again.’

The airport has since partially reopened.

Explosions were reported near Dubai International Airport at around 8am local time (4am GMT), and a fire was seen burning near the complex following another suspected Iranian drone strike.

Mike Linn, a British tourist from Edinburgh, said he arrived at the airport determined to leave despite the drone chaos. Picture: Mike and Lisa Linn at the airport

Dubai authorities were quick to claim there were ‘no incidents’ at the airport, but confirmed a drone was successfully intercepted and no injuries were reported.

Iran has launched a series of furious retaliatory attacks across the Middle East; It launched a series of attacks on Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel that left the region in flames.

Following warnings of possible attacks on hotels, US-led troops hit several potential attacks on the Kurdish city of Erbil, while drones hit oil facilities and airports in Iraq.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of Iran-backed Shiite groups, has claimed to have launched an attack on a US military base near Baghdad Airport ‘as punishment’ for the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Israel and Iran continued to exchange fire throughout the night and the IDF confirmed that Lebanon had launched a new wave of attacks against ‘terrorist targets’ in Beirut’s Dahiyeh District as the war entered its eighth day.

In the statement made by the Tasmin news agency affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, it was stated that Iran carried out its 23rd attack round after Israel reported that missiles were detected coming from the region towards Israel.

Explosive flames and billowing smoke are wreaking havoc in Tehran following airstrikes on Mehrabad International Airport in the early hours of this morning.

The country’s Ministry of Defense stated that nine out of ten drone attacks against Qatar were stopped, and the tenth attack hit a deserted area, while also confirming that no injuries occurred.

Authorities have confirmed that four drones heading towards the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia were intercepted and destroyed in the Empty Quarter desert.

At the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Britain was ‘prepared’ to defend its ally.

This is breaking news. More to follow.