It is clear to everyone, rather incredulously, but the Middle East has entered a phase of open war which no longer concerns only Iran, Israel and the United States. After the bombings launched by Washington and Tel Aviv against strategic Iranian targets and the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran responded with a large-scale missile campaign that is spreading across the entire Gulf.
A wave of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones has in fact hit Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Among the targets are areas close to Western embassies, civil infrastructures, airports and ports, hotels. The attacks began on Saturday 28 February in response to Israeli and US bombings on Tehran, Isfahan, Qom and other Iranian cities. And since then there have been hours of tension also for the thousands of Italians who are in those parts.
In fact, many airports are operating intermittently, with temporary closures of the airspace and several airlines have suspended routes to the area.
We talk about it here: The biggest disruption to air traffic since Covid is underway: over 5000 flights canceled (after the attack in Iran)
Italians in Dubai and Cyprus: what we know
Dubai has also been affected by explosions heard in the city and heightened security measures. There are over 10,000 Italians registered in the AIRE (official register in which Italian citizens living outside Italy for more than 12 months must register) in the United Arab Emirates, in addition to tourists and temporary workers. It is one of the main economic and tourism hubs in the region, with a strong Italian presence in the catering, construction, fashion, tourism and finance sectors.
At present, Emirati airspace has been partially and temporarily closed and some flights have been canceled or diverted.
Cyprus, not far from the Israeli and Syrian coasts, has also become one of the most sensitive points in the region, since it hosts British soldiers, is one of the main evacuation hubs for European citizens from the Middle East and is a logistical hub for diplomatic and humanitarian operations.
In the last few hours the warning sirens have sounded at the British RAF base in Akrotiri, which had already been hit by a drone. The attack would have caused limited damage and no victims were recorded, but in the meantime, as a precaution, Paphos international airport was also evacuated, after the detection of an unidentified drone in the reserved airspace of the airport.
The island’s airports remain operational, but with heavy traffic, delays and heightened security measures.
Why Cyprus is so sensitive
Cyprus is located in a strategic position, less than 300 kilometers from the Israeli and Syrian coasts. It hosts British military bases and is a key logistics hub for evacuations and diplomatic operations in the eastern Mediterranean. Precisely for this reason it is considered a vulnerable point in the event of further regional escalation.
The Italian community in Cyprus is smaller than in the Emirates, but the island is receiving European citizens fleeing from Israel and other countries involved. At present, the airports are operational but with heavy traffic and delays and there are no reports of Italians directly involved in the attacks.
What to do
For those who find themselves stranded in the Gulf countries, the Farnesina has taken action by creating a task force responsible for coordinating assistance to fellow citizens and organizing accommodation and repatriations as quickly as possible. For further information, the number +39 06 36225 or the email address unit.crisi@esteri.it are always active.
New emergency numbers were then established for Dubai and Abu Dhabi:
