Croatian government outlines evacuation routes for citizens in UAE
- by croatiaweek
- in News
UAE
Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Gordan Grlić Radman, has assured that Croatian citizens currently in the United Arab Emirates can rely on full consular assistance as tensions escalate across the Middle East.
Speaking on Croatian Radiotelevision’s central news programme, the minister said that Croatian residents and tourists in the UAE are being directed to the Croatian General Consulate in Dubai for guidance and support.
According to Grlić Radman, the consulate is providing citizens with all necessary information regarding crisis procedures, including safety recommendations, key contacts and potential evacuation options.
Alternative routes available
The minister noted that flights towards the EU and other destinations are currently unavailable, but stressed that Croatian citizens still have alternative travel routes.
One option involves travelling by road through Oman to the airport in Muscat, with coordination taking place between Croatian consular representatives and airlines.
Other possible routes include departures via Saudi Arabia or through Nairobi in Kenya.
Authorities say they remain in close contact with Croatian citizens in the region and are monitoring the situation closely.
Earlier evacuation from Iran
Addressing the situation in Iran and the wider Middle East, Grlić Radman confirmed that Croatia had already evacuated most of its citizens and diplomatic staff from the country earlier.
Only one person remains at the Croatian embassy in Tehran to handle administrative and logistical tasks.
Several Croatian footballers who had contractual obligations with their clubs in Iran have also now left the country.
“In case of need, evacuation can be organised quickly and safely using Cyprus as a regional hub,” the minister explained.
Grlić Radman said he had been in contact with foreign ministers from Egypt, Oman, Israel, Tunisia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as diplomatic efforts continue.
At an extraordinary meeting of the Council of the European Union’s foreign affairs ministers, a strong joint statement was adopted condemning Iranian attacks and emphasising the need to preserve regional stability and international security.
The EU also called for de-escalation and a return to diplomatic dialogue.
“We condemned the Iranian regime, but at the same time expressed support for the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom,” Grlić Radman said.
The minister warned that the situation in the Middle East could have far-reaching humanitarian and economic consequences if the conflict escalates further.
He noted that some regional officials had expressed concerns about a potential large wave of refugees should the conflict spread beyond the region.
“A humanitarian catastrophe could arise if the escalation crosses regional borders,” he said.
Grlić Radman also highlighted the potential economic implications, particularly regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
If the waterway were closed, he warned, it could disrupt around 20 percent of global LNG production and push oil prices as high as $200 per barrel.
“A prolonged large-scale conflict would not be in anyone’s interest,” the Croatian foreign minister concluded.
