As a result, many tourists from various countries have found themselves in a difficult situation, unable to fly home, and there are complaints about the eviction of people from hotels.
Kaktus.media investigated the situation of Kyrgyz citizens in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Military Operation of Israel and the USA Against Iran
On February 28, Israel and the USA began attacks on Iran, striking Tehran and other targets. Donald Trump announced the intention to destroy Iran's nuclear program and urged the Iranian army to surrender, while calling on the population to take control of their destiny.In response, Iran attacked Israeli and other facilities in the Middle East. The U.S. Central Command reported minimal damage from Iranian attacks on February 28; however, by March 1, it was reported that three American servicemen had been killed and five others seriously injured.
On the second day of the operation, the Iranian side confirmed the death of the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials, including Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Pakpour.
Mass Flight Cancellations in the Middle East
On the evening of February 28, a drone attacked Kuwait International Airport, resulting in injuries to several staff members. Kuwait Airways canceled all flights due to the escalation of the situation.According to the airport, the cancellations were caused by security measures and changes in airline routes.
Passengers of canceled flights are advised to contact their airlines or ticket purchase locations for additional information regarding refunds or rescheduling.
Tourists Remain in Hotels, No Evictions
Currently, Kyrgyz citizens in the UAE and Saudi Arabia who purchased packages through tour operators remain in hotels. This was reported by Ermek Myrzabekov, the chairman of the Kyrgyz Tourism Association.He added that together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the tourism department, a precise list of tourists in the UAE and Saudi Arabia is being created. According to preliminary data, there are more than 400 such citizens.
“It is currently impossible to provide an exact number, as more than 500 travel agencies operate in this direction, and not all of them are part of our association. This complicates information gathering. It is important to note that this list does not include students and workers, as well as citizens traveling independently. We need to provide a final list to government agencies, and the possibility of returning our citizens home is being considered,” Myrzabekov noted.
The head of the Association also emphasized that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are popular destinations for Kyrgyz citizens, but currently, the number of tourists is significantly lower than in December, when the peak season occurred.
The Tourism Association wants to assure citizens that no tourists are being overlooked. We always support our tourists in any difficult situations.“There is no need to worry about the tourists. Tour operators are in contact with them, and in case of problems, it is necessary to reach out to those from whom the packages were purchased. They will definitely help. Those who traveled independently will find it more difficult, as no one knows about them — neither the consuls nor the travel agencies,” concluded Myrzabekov.
Board member of the Tourism Association Valeria Bobrova also noted that everything is functioning normally at the resorts, tourists from Kyrgyzstan are not being evicted from hotels, and travel agencies continue to maintain contact with them.
“There is another nuance: cruises in the Persian Gulf are officially canceled, however, all cruisers remain on the liners and receive full service and meals,” added Bobrova.
Authorities' Opinion
The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported that as of March 2, 2026, about 22,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.- About 100 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are in Israel, most of whom are women with dual citizenship.
- In the UAE — about 10,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan.
- In Kuwait and Bahrain — about 800 people, mostly permanent residents.
- In Saudi Arabia — about 6,000 people, most of whom are on pilgrimage.
“We are considering the possibility of evacuating citizens in case the situation worsens. Currently, there is no security threat, and there is no information about injured citizens,” the department reported.
