The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), working with the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), has facilitated the return of approximately 500 Golden Visa holders and residents stranded abroad by airspace closures linked to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. Authorities carried out the operations through both air and land entry points.
Airspace across much of the Middle East has been intermittently closed or restricted since the conflict began on February 28.
The UAE itself has operated under Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) protocols, with a drone strike near Dubai International Airport on March 16 briefly suspending flight operations. Emirates, the UAE’s flagship carrier, has been operating at roughly 60% of pre-war capacity.
Consular Framework Put to the Test
The evacuation marks the first operational deployment of the consular services MoFA introduced for Golden Visa holders in October 2025, an initiative officials described at the time as globally unprecedented. Under that program, Golden Visa holders abroad can access 24/7 emergency assistance through a dedicated hotline (+971 2 493 1133), request electronic return documents if they lose their passport, and receive evacuation support during crises.
The electronic return document, which MoFA issues in approximately 30 minutes, allows Golden Visa holders to re-enter the UAE on a single-use basis within seven days. Applicants submit a police report, Golden Visa details, and a passport photo through the MoFA app using UAE Pass. The document is issued free of charge.
MoFA and NCEMA said response mechanisms were activated early, with both entities implementing precautionary measures within their respective mandates. Officials said the effort involved close coordination with UAE diplomatic missions overseas.
“They’re Doing What They Promise”
Rafael Cintron, CEO of Wealthy Expat, praised the operation. “They’re doing what they promise,” he said. “They’re helping golden visa holders. They’re allowing grace periods to renew their visas and they’re doing everything possible.”
Jeremy Savory, founder and CEO of Savory & Partners, offered a broader comparison. “As a proud UAE golden visa by nomination holder, I can say that the UAE really understands the value of citizens even when they are not even their own,” he said.
Savory drew a direct contrast with the UK, where the evacuation of British nationals from the Gulf has been accompanied by a political debate over whether expatriates who left to avoid taxes deserve government protection.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey told Parliament on March 2 that it was “only right” for British expats in the region to “start paying taxes to fund our Armed Forces just like the rest of us do,” a remark that sparked backlash.
“Contrast this with the outrage in the UK: ‘they should not be evacuated if they don’t pay taxes,’ despite that it was mainly tourists and UK tax residents, and that actually the vast majority of residents stayed,” Savory observed. “Some countries go above and beyond for talent and capital while others demonize, restrict, and extort their best and brightest.”
UK Expats Face Tax Trap
The UK angle extends beyond political rhetoric. British expatriates who return to the UK risk breaching the 183-day statutory residence test, potentially triggering tax liability on their worldwide income.
HMRC has declined to issue specific guidance for those displaced by the conflict, and tax advisers have warned that the agency’s interpretation of “exceptional circumstances” tends to be narrower than most people expect. Some high-net-worth Britons have opted to relocate temporarily to Ireland or France rather than return home.
Approximately 160,000 British nationals are registered across the Gulf region. With the UK’s financial year ending on April 5, those who have already spent time in Britain face a shrinking window.
A Differentiator for the Golden Visa
The UAE’s evacuation operation comes as its Golden Visa program continues to expand. Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) issued 158,000 golden visas in 2023 alone, nearly doubling the prior year’s total.
When MoFA launched the consular services last October, Savory called the UAE “such a forward-thinking country” and noted that “the value-add just keeps on going.” Jeffrey Henseler, Chairman of Passport Legacy, argued at the time that the initiative showed “the Golden Visa isn’t just about staying in the country but more about being part of it.”
The current crisis has now validated that claim operationally. Whether 500 evacuees constitute a large-scale test of the system or merely a proof of concept will depend on how long regional disruptions persist.
The UAE briefly closed its airspace again on March 17 after intercepting a fresh wave of Iranian missiles and drones, reopening approximately two hours later. Flight operations remain unpredictable.
IMI Pros Who Can Help with the UAE Golden Visa
