4 min readNew DelhiMar 8, 2026 11:25 AM IST
First published on: Mar 8, 2026 at 08:13 AM IST
The Ministry of External Affairs late Saturday shared that more than 52,000 Indians have been safely brought back from the Gulf region to India between Macth 1 and 7.
Posting an update over X, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that of these, 32,107 passengers travelled on Indian carriers.
He said that the Indian government has been continuously monitoring developments in West Asia and the Gulf region, with emphasis on the welfare of Indian nationals who are stranded there in transit or on short‑term visits.
“The safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost priority to the government, which remains engaged with the Governments across the region to work towards facilitating all those in need of assistance,” the MEA wrote.
The MEA advised Indian nationals to follow the guidelines of local authorities and the advisories issued by the Indian Embassy or Consulate in their respective locations.
Jaiswal also informed about the 24×7 helpline set up by Indian embassies or consulates in each of the countries in the region. Moreover, a Special Control Room has also been set up to monitor and respond to queries of those affected and their families, Jaiswal wrote in the update.
He said that ever since the airspaces in these regions have partially reopened this week, Indian and foreign airlines have continued to operate commercial flights, including non-scheduled flights, to facilitate the return of passengers from the Gulf.
The MEA Spokesperson also advised Indian nationals in countries where commercial flight operations are unavailable as of now, to contact the concerned Embassy or Consulate directly for information and guidance on the nearest available flight options.
Early this week, India urged all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint, laying emphasis on the safety of civilians, while accepting that some Indians were left dead, while others were missing.
Referring to the intensification and spread of the conflict to other nations in the past few days, the government highlighted that almost 1 crore Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region.
On March 2, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had expressed concern over the safety and security of the Indian expatriate community in the Gulf nations. The CCS then directed all concerned departments to take necessary and feasible measures to assist Indian nationals affected by the developments.
Following the direction, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Centre was fully prepared to bring back Indians stranded in the Gulf region and was in touch with Indian missions abroad to ensure their safety.
Advisory against taking photos/videos at airports and prohibited zones
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has warned individuals against “unauthorized filming” of incident sites, prohibited areas, as well as inside the airports across the United Arab Emirates.
It also urged Indian nationals residing in or travelling to the UAE to strictly comply with local laws and follow safety guidelines issued by the UAE authorities.
In its advisory, the mission recommended to “strictly observe” the guidelines to avoid legal consequences. It wrote: “When you hear a warning alert, proceed immediately to a safe place and remain there until the warning alert has been lifted for your area. Do not attempt to go outside to take photograph/videos.”
It also advised Indian nationals to “strictly avoid sharing or publishing images of incident sites, including damage from projectiles or shrapnel, via digital/social media platforms.”
Additionally, it asked them to report the events of shrapnel falling or discovery of suspicious objects in their vicinity to the competent authorities immediately. “Please stay away from the location and do not approach or touch any parts,” the embassy stated.
Even at airports arrival/departure, the mission advised its citizens against taking photographs or videos.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that of these, 32,107 passengers travelled on Indian carriers. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee) 
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