Singapore’s MFA begins repatriation flights this weekend to bring citizens home from Oman and the UAE, with plans for assisted trips from Bahrain and Qatar in the coming days.
Singapore has announced it will operate repatriation flights on Saturday, 7 March, and Sunday to bring home citizens stranded in the Middle East amid the regional conflict.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) confirmed the plan on Thursday, noting that a substantial number of Singaporeans have already sought government assistance to leave the region.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang told journalists that roughly one-quarter of those who have registered with the MFA for assistance have requested evacuation support since the crisis began.
The repatriation initiative will begin with flights out of Muscat, Oman, where Singapore has deployed consular teams to coordinate logistics.
“Our consular team and embassies have been working very hard on the ground to explore the arrangements,” Gan stressed.
The initial flights are aimed at Singaporeans in Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which together host about 60 percent of those who have sought help through the e‑registration process, according to MFA.
Tickets for the flights, which depart from Muscat International Airport, are priced at S$600 per seat, with random cabin assignments and no differentiation in meal service across classes.
Travel arrangements include overland transport by coach for those in the UAE, with pickups scheduled from designated points in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
However, MFA has warned that timings are subject to change at short notice as the situation remains fluid.
Beyond the scheduled flights from Oman, Singapore’s foreign ministry is expanding its regional response.
Crisis response officers are already on the ground in Muscat, and additional personnel are set to be deployed to Riyadh in the coming days to support those in other parts of the Middle East.
For Singaporeans in Bahrain and Qatar, MFA plans to organise assisted overland trips to Riyadh, where the international airport remains operational and commercial flights are still available for onward travel.
“We will be reaching out to Singaporeans who have recently indicated to us that they would like assistance to return to Singapore,” Gan said, emphasising the personalised support being arranged for those in need.
In outlining the government’s ongoing strategy, Gan urged citizens in the Middle East to stay in safe locations and follow local authority guidance.
She also stressed the importance of e‑registration for all Singaporeans in the region, noting that it enables the MFA to communicate vital information and coordinate evacuation options effectively.
