Uzbekistan Repatriates More than 21,700 Citizens from the Middle East
Uzbekistan has repatriated 21,712 citizens from several Middle Eastern countries as of 07:00 on March 9, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, as evacuation efforts continue amid regional instability.
Most of those returned came from Saudi Arabia, with 17,963 Uzbek citizens brought home. Additional repatriations included 3,290 people from the United Arab Emirates, 378 from Qatar, 47 from Iran, 27 from Bahrain, and seven from Oman.
The foreign ministry said the return of citizens is being carried out «systematically and in stages,» with authorities coordinating flights and logistics for those wishing to return. Many evacuation flights are being organized through countries whose airspace remains open to civilian aviation.
The scale of the operation reflects the large presence of Uzbek citizens across the Gulf region. In recent years, Uzbekistan has expanded labour migration agreements with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, sending thousands of workers to construction, hospitality and service sectors. Saudi Arabia is also a major destination for Uzbek pilgrims travelling for Hajj and Umrah.
The number of evacuees has risen rapidly in recent days. According to the ministry, 19,347 citizens had returned to Uzbekistan as of the morning of March 8.
Uzbek diplomatic missions in the region have also issued safety guidance to citizens who remain abroad. The Uzbek embassy in Israel, for example, urged nationals to follow local security instructions and remain near protected shelters when civil defence alerts are issued.
Other Central Asian countries have also begun evacuation efforts. Kazakhstan has repatriated 8,585 citizens from the Middle East during the crisis, while Tajikistan has brought home several hundred people on charter flights from the United Arab Emirates in recent days.
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