Flights from Chisinau to Dubai resumed. Thirty six Moldovans returned home
Flights between Chisinau and Dubai resumed despite tensions in the Middle East that disrupted regional air traffic. On March 5, thirty six citizens of the Republic of Moldova returned home from the United Arab Emirates. Also, dozens of other passengers flew from Chisinau to Dubai.
“On the Dubai to Chisinau flight on March 5, 2026, authorities recorded 36 citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” Border Police representatives told Teleradio Moldova.
Authorities in Chisinau also report ongoing efforts to support Moldovan citizens in the region who want to return home.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stays in contact with Ukrainian and Romanian colleagues and coordinates efforts to find ways to extract them from there and help them return home as quickly as possible,” Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu said on Thursday before the parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, airlines continue to operate flights to the United Arab Emirates from Chisinau International Airport. Flights to Dubai resumed on March 4, when the first route operated after tensions erupted in the Middle East.
On March 5, the aircraft that flew from Chisinau to Dubai carried far fewer passengers than usual. Airport data show that only 52 passengers boarded the aircraft, which holds about 220 seats. Airlines sold 83 tickets for that flight.
Travel costs also rose sharply. According to data from online booking platforms, a ticket for the Dubai to Chisinau route can reach about 4,500 euros, depending on the flight date and seat availability.
Higher prices reflect disruptions in regional air traffic after several Middle Eastern states restricted airspace or temporarily suspended flights.
Authorities advise citizens to check information from airlines before planning travel to the region, because conditions remain fluid and flight schedules may change.
More than one hundred Moldovans have requested evacuation from the region
About 120 Moldovan citizens in the Middle East have asked authorities for help to evacuate from the region after an armed conflict that erupted at the end of February led to the temporary closure of several airspaces.
According to data released on March 5 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the United Arab Emirates registered 110 evacuation requests, while the embassy in Qatar registered 22 requests.
Authorities also recorded two repatriation requests from Lebanon. Two Moldovan citizens also managed to leave Israel with support from the Moldovan and Romanian embassies in Tel Aviv and arrived safely in Bucharest.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also received reports from Moldovan citizens in other countries, including the Philippines, the Maldives, Zanzibar, and Sri Lanka, who face flight cancellations, rescheduled flights, and transit difficulties.
Between February 28 and March 3, several states in the region closed their airspace, which severely affected airport operations. On March 3, Dubai International Airport partially reopened and some flights resumed.
In these conditions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Moldovan citizens in the region to avoid non essential travel, check flight status directly with airlines, and follow instructions from local authorities.
