As Iran escalates attacks on US military bases and fuel infrastructure across the Gulf, the region has become increasingly volatile. This instability has directly impacted Nepali migrant workers stationed there.

Many who want to return home due to safety concerns or planned vacations find themselves stranded at their workplaces. With flight schedules disrupted, travelling between Nepal and the Gulf—as well as to other destinations—has become a big challenge.

How can Nepalis return home safely from the Gulf? We took this question to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The Ministry informed us that limited routes remain available for those wanting to repatriate. MoFA stated that individuals needing to return for emergency reasons should first contact the Nepali Embassy or Consulate in their host country before finalising any travel plans.

Lok Bahadur Chhetri, spokesperson at the ministry, said that embassies in respective countries will provide information on available flights, transit routes and necessary documentation to facilitate the process.

Currently, international airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates are partially operational. From these hubs, travellers can fly to Nepal either directly or via other transit points. While regular flights from Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia are not fully operational, direct or transit travel remains a possibility from these locations.

In Qatar, direct flights are limited. Travellers there may need to use overland routes to reach Saudi Arabia or the UAE to catch a flight.

Similarly, direct flights from Kuwait to Nepal are constrained; notably, Kuwait–Kathmandu–Kuwait flights have been halted for the past three weeks. Previously, Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways operated these routes. Currently, those in Kuwait are advised to travel by land to airports in Saudi Arabia or the UAE.

Travel from Bahrain is particularly difficult at the moment, as there are no direct flights to Nepal. Residents there must travel overland to Saudi Arabia or Dubai to secure international connections.

In Oman, Muscat International Airport remains open, with limited flights operating to various Indian cities, which can serve as transit points back to Nepal.

From Iraq, the possibility of direct flights is slim; the primary option is to reach Saudi Arabia or the UAE by land.