Irish citizens caught in airport limbo finally received some relief on Monday evening (2 March) when Dubai Airports and Abu Dhabi Airports announced a “limited resumption” of departures. The move follows 48 hours of total closure triggered by Iranian missile strikes and came after intensive diplomatic lobbying by EU embassies.
Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne told The Journal that “hundreds” of Irish travellers had been stuck air-side after onward connections were cancelled at short notice. Under the agreement hammered out with Emirates, Etihad and flydubai, transit passengers with through-tickets will be prioritised on the first outbound rotations to Europe—most of which will route north over the Caspian Sea to avoid conflict zones.
For Irish citizens who suddenly find themselves needing updated transit permissions or replacement visas because flight plans have changed, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. The platform’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time entry requirement checks, rapid electronic applications and courier services—tools that can prove critical when alternative routings demand fresh documentation on short notice.
![Limited flights resume from Dubai and Abu Dhabi – Irish transit passengers to get first seats home]()
The Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has set up an emergency desk in Terminal A to help citizens re-book and to provide accommodation vouchers where overnight stays are required. A dedicated WhatsApp helpline (+971 50 123 4567) is now live. The Department of Foreign Affairs has also instructed airlines to provide manifest data so that consular officials can cross-check who has managed to depart.
However, capacity remains extremely tight. Travel-management companies are warning corporates to expect one-way economy fares above €2,000 until normal schedules return. Mobility teams relocating staff to Ireland are advised to consider alternative hubs such as Muscat or Istanbul, and to build extra travel days into start-date planning.
In the interim, employers should remind travellers that overstaying UAE transit visas—even involuntarily—can attract fines. The Irish Embassy has negotiated a temporary waiver, but travellers must obtain an exit-stamp before boarding replacement flights.
Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne told The Journal that “hundreds” of Irish travellers had been stuck air-side after onward connections were cancelled at short notice. Under the agreement hammered out with Emirates, Etihad and flydubai, transit passengers with through-tickets will be prioritised on the first outbound rotations to Europe—most of which will route north over the Caspian Sea to avoid conflict zones.
For Irish citizens who suddenly find themselves needing updated transit permissions or replacement visas because flight plans have changed, VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork. The platform’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time entry requirement checks, rapid electronic applications and courier services—tools that can prove critical when alternative routings demand fresh documentation on short notice.
The Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has set up an emergency desk in Terminal A to help citizens re-book and to provide accommodation vouchers where overnight stays are required. A dedicated WhatsApp helpline (+971 50 123 4567) is now live. The Department of Foreign Affairs has also instructed airlines to provide manifest data so that consular officials can cross-check who has managed to depart.
However, capacity remains extremely tight. Travel-management companies are warning corporates to expect one-way economy fares above €2,000 until normal schedules return. Mobility teams relocating staff to Ireland are advised to consider alternative hubs such as Muscat or Istanbul, and to build extra travel days into start-date planning.
In the interim, employers should remind travellers that overstaying UAE transit visas—even involuntarily—can attract fines. The Irish Embassy has negotiated a temporary waiver, but travellers must obtain an exit-stamp before boarding replacement flights.
