Second Special Flight from Dubai Safely Returns 266 Passengers Home

08. Mar 2026.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, in cooperation with the national airline Air Serbia, has continued its evacuation mission for Serbian citizens from the Middle East through another successfully and safely conducted flight from Dubai.

A total of 266 passengers were safely returned home this evening on a special flight from Dubai.

On the second evacuation flight from Dubai since the beginning of the crisis, the delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was led by Assistant Minister Željko Jović. The delegation departed for the United Arab Emirates early this morning in order to ensure that the establishment of yet another air bridge between Belgrade and the Middle East proceeds as planned.

“At the initiative of the President of the Republic, Aleksandar Vučić, and in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with significant support and assistance from our national airline Air Serbia, we launched the evacuation of citizens of the Republic of Serbia a few days ago who expressed the wish to return to Serbia from security-threatened areas,” Assistant Minister Jović stated.

Speaking from the airport in Dubai, he noted that, following the boarding of passengers and positive security assessments regarding the situation in the airspace above the Emirates and the wider region, a successful departure was expected, followed by a landing at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport later in the evening, ensuring the safe return of several hundred Serbian citizens to their homeland.

“In these times of what can rightly be described as tectonic shifts in international relations, when we anticipate new crises, new challenges, and new risks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Minister Marko Đurić, remains fully open and available to all its citizens anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day,” he emphasized.

The Assistant Minister further stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making significant efforts to respond to all requests and appeals in the shortest possible time, so that, in accordance with objective capacities and the applicable legal framework, they may be addressed in the best possible manner and in line with the expectations of Serbian citizens.

Jović also expressed gratitude to Ambassador Vladimir Marić, as well as to all diplomats and staff of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Abu Dhabi, for their considerable efforts in ensuring that these evacuation operations were carried out smoothly and successfully.