Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on 9 March 2026 that its emergency airlift from the Middle East had brought home **432** stranded nationals, plus around 100 other EU citizens, in the wake of escalating regional tensions. The final Belgian military Airbus A400 M departed Dubai via Hurghada on Monday, with arrival at Brussels Airport expected in the early hours of Tuesday. The operation began on 8 March with a flight carrying 195 Belgians and assorted EU citizens from Oman. Additional citizens were assisted by bus convoys from Doha to Riyadh, where they could catch commercial flights.
![Belgium completes airlift, repatriating 432 nationals from Gulf states]()
At times like these, many travelers also need to secure emergency transit paperwork on short notice. VisaHQ’s dedicated Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can fast-track visa applications, arrange e-visas, and provide real-time status updates—helping employers and duty-of-care teams stay ahead of sudden itinerary changes and regional restrictions.
Brussels coordinated closely with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism; Commissioner Hadja Lahbib confirmed that **42** rescEU flights have so far repatriated more than 4,100 Europeans, marking the first large-scale use of passenger aircraft under the mechanism. Up to 75 % of transport costs are reimbursable when flights carry at least 30 % non-national EU passengers, making joint evacuations attractive for smaller member states. For global-mobility and duty-of-care teams the news is twofold. First, any Belgians still registering on the TravellersOnline portal after 9 March will be routed to seats organised by partner EU countries, so onward plans must account for alternative arrival airports. Second, the demonstrated speed of the rescEU expansion means companies can expect closer cooperation— and possible cost-sharing—when arranging charter evacuations in future crises. Foreign Affairs will keep a small liaison unit in Dubai until commercial schedules normalise, but no further Belgian government flights are planned. Employers with staff across the Gulf are advised to move personnel onto commercial itineraries before regional airspace restrictions intensify again.
At times like these, many travelers also need to secure emergency transit paperwork on short notice. VisaHQ’s dedicated Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) can fast-track visa applications, arrange e-visas, and provide real-time status updates—helping employers and duty-of-care teams stay ahead of sudden itinerary changes and regional restrictions.
Brussels coordinated closely with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism; Commissioner Hadja Lahbib confirmed that **42** rescEU flights have so far repatriated more than 4,100 Europeans, marking the first large-scale use of passenger aircraft under the mechanism. Up to 75 % of transport costs are reimbursable when flights carry at least 30 % non-national EU passengers, making joint evacuations attractive for smaller member states. For global-mobility and duty-of-care teams the news is twofold. First, any Belgians still registering on the TravellersOnline portal after 9 March will be routed to seats organised by partner EU countries, so onward plans must account for alternative arrival airports. Second, the demonstrated speed of the rescEU expansion means companies can expect closer cooperation— and possible cost-sharing—when arranging charter evacuations in future crises. Foreign Affairs will keep a small liaison unit in Dubai until commercial schedules normalise, but no further Belgian government flights are planned. Employers with staff across the Gulf are advised to move personnel onto commercial itineraries before regional airspace restrictions intensify again.
