Belgium’s Foreign and Defence ministries have begun the phased evacuation of more than 400 citizens caught in the Gulf as hostilities between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition escalate. The first five Belgians landed safely at Amsterdam Schiphol on Wednesday morning aboard a Dutch military flight from Oman, while a second contingent of about 30 is expected to depart Muscat later in the day with Luxembourg’s assistance.
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For those scrambling to reroute through multiple transit hubs, VisaHQ can simplify a key part of the puzzle: ensuring you have the correct visas or travel authorisations before boarding. Belgians moving via Saudi Arabia, Oman or other third countries can instantly verify requirements or order e-visas through the dedicated portal at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ freeing time to focus on the logistics of evacuation rather than paperwork.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot confirmed that the operation prioritises travellers in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, where Iranian missile strikes have disrupted civilian aviation. Because regional airspace remains volatile, evacuees are being moved by bus to “safe” airports in Saudi Arabia or Oman before onward travel to Europe. The Belgian Air Component has deployed two A400M transporters and one A330 MRTT, but officials stress that military lift will be used sparingly in order to rotate as many passengers as possible. In line with Belgian consular law, evacuees will be invoiced a cost-sharing fee, provisionally set at €600 for the government-chartered leg, and are urged to book commercial tickets for the final stretch to Brussels as soon as feasible. Travellers must register on the Travellers Online portal or via local embassies; those permanently resident in the Gulf are excluded from the programme. An emergency hotline (+32 2 501 40 00) has been activated. Global-mobility teams with personnel in the region should confirm that staff are enrolled on employer travel-tracking systems, have contingency cash and can reach land-border crossings if required. Insurance providers warn that “war-risk” exclusions may apply once travellers board military aircraft, so companies should verify policies. The episode also highlights the value of EU civil-protection cooperation: Belgium is coordinating closely with the Netherlands and Luxembourg to pool lift capacity and diplomatic clearances.
For those scrambling to reroute through multiple transit hubs, VisaHQ can simplify a key part of the puzzle: ensuring you have the correct visas or travel authorisations before boarding. Belgians moving via Saudi Arabia, Oman or other third countries can instantly verify requirements or order e-visas through the dedicated portal at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ freeing time to focus on the logistics of evacuation rather than paperwork.
Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot confirmed that the operation prioritises travellers in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, where Iranian missile strikes have disrupted civilian aviation. Because regional airspace remains volatile, evacuees are being moved by bus to “safe” airports in Saudi Arabia or Oman before onward travel to Europe. The Belgian Air Component has deployed two A400M transporters and one A330 MRTT, but officials stress that military lift will be used sparingly in order to rotate as many passengers as possible. In line with Belgian consular law, evacuees will be invoiced a cost-sharing fee, provisionally set at €600 for the government-chartered leg, and are urged to book commercial tickets for the final stretch to Brussels as soon as feasible. Travellers must register on the Travellers Online portal or via local embassies; those permanently resident in the Gulf are excluded from the programme. An emergency hotline (+32 2 501 40 00) has been activated. Global-mobility teams with personnel in the region should confirm that staff are enrolled on employer travel-tracking systems, have contingency cash and can reach land-border crossings if required. Insurance providers warn that “war-risk” exclusions may apply once travellers board military aircraft, so companies should verify policies. The episode also highlights the value of EU civil-protection cooperation: Belgium is coordinating closely with the Netherlands and Luxembourg to pool lift capacity and diplomatic clearances.
