As the conflict in the Middle East escalates following military actions by the United States and Israel and retaliatory strikes by Iran, thousands of flights have been canceled, and airspace across the region remains largely closed. This has created serious travel disruptions, leaving many citizens from the Balkans struggling to return home or awaiting evacuation.
Serbia
Serbia has begun evacuating its citizens from conflict zones in the region. The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is coordinating the evacuation of Serbian nationals from Israel, transporting them first to Egypt and then arranging flights back to Belgrade.
In addition, a flight carrying around 200 Serbian citizens departed from Dubai and landed in Belgrade after days of disrupted air travel, marking one of the first repatriation efforts following widespread flight cancellations.
Croatia
The Croatian government has been actively communicating with its citizens in the United Arab Emirates, where around 2,000 Croatians are known to be present, along with hundreds of thousands of other European nationals stuck due to the chaos.
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has advised Croatian citizens to remain cautious and stay informed, urging people to stay in secure locations and provide their information to consular authorities for possible future assistance.
Limited flights out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi resumed after several days of complete airspace closure, but authorities warn that travel remains uncertain and arrangements must be confirmed directly with airlines.
Slovenia
Slovenian authorities report that around 200 Slovenian citizens are still stuck in Dubai due to widespread flight cancellations caused by the conflict and airspace shutdowns.
The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to those stranded and is coordinating with other EU member states on possible return efforts, though exact timelines remain unclear while air travel disruptions continue.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that more than 400 Macedonian citizens have requested evacuation support from the Middle East, particularly from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
While approximately 30 people have expressed willingness to leave at the first safe opportunity, authorities say that security conditions are not yet favorable for a full, organized evacuation, and they continue to monitor the situation to coordinate departures when possible.
