The government is sending two none-scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Friday and Sunday to bring back Nepali citizens who wish to return owing to the disturbances created by Iran’s retaliation for US and Israel’s attacks on it.

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal initiated a meeting on Tuesday with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal; and the Nepal Airlines Corporation. The meeting decided to send two special flights to Dubai and Damam, according to the foreign ministry.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed an eight-member panel headed by Khanal to study the immediate impact of the West Asian war and prepare a long-term plan and strategy to cope with a similar situation that could arise in the future.

The meeting discussed facilitating the rescue and movement of Nepali citizens in West Asia and operating necessary air services, said the foreign ministry. At the direction of the foreign minister, the Nepal Airlines will operate special flights in specified regions from April 3 to April 5.

Regular flights to these regions have been suspended since February 28, 2026, due to the prevailing tension and worsening security situation in Persian Gulf countries, the statement added. “The ministry expresses its sincere gratitude to Nepal Airlines for arranging these flights. It also extends its appreciation to the Rastriya Beema Company Limited for its support in facilitating the necessary insurance arrangements for operating these flights."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed its thanks to other stakeholders who contributed and coordinated in operating these special flights amid the firing of missiles and projectiles between the warring sides.

As per the schedule, RA 229 will depart from Kathmandu on Friday at 23:15 local time for Dubai. The next day, at 04:10 local time, it will return to Kathmandu with Nepali nationals stranded there and some bodies of dead Nepali migrant workers. On Sunday, another special flight, RA 241 will depart for Damam, Saudi Arabia from Kathmandu at 08:30 local time. It will return to Kathmandu the next day at 12:20 local time. The flight will also bring back stranded Nepalis and some bodies of dead Nepali migrant workers.

On Wednesday, a flight of Kuwait Airways landed at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa. The flight carried 291 passengers, along with the bodies of nine (9) Nepali citizens who had died in Kuwait due to reasons other than the current situation.