30 Andorrans Stranded in UAE Amid Middle East Airspace Closures

Around 30 Andorrans remain stranded mainly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi due to airspace closures in the Middle East triggered by escalating conflict following attacks on Iran, though some repatriation options are now emerging.

Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor confirmed the group—comprising nationals and residents in transit or living locally—is safe, mostly accommodated in hotels, and in constant contact with the ministry. She urged them to stay put and await instructions from airlines, noting some carriers have resumed flights as airspace reopens progressively. UAE authorities will cover extra hotel nights, Tor added, while coordination with Spanish and French consulates continues under the mutual aid convention. No full-scale evacuations are planned yet, but Andorra is compiling lists of vulnerable cases—elderly people, those with illnesses, or families with minors—for priority on Spanish-organized repatriation flights to Madrid this week. A first such flight has already departed without Andorrans aboard.

Two Andorrans in Abu Dhabi are scheduled to return this afternoon on a commercial Etihad Airways flight to Barcelona, landing around 18:35. The stranded group held a video call with Tor this morning, where she shared updates from Spain and France and emphasised calm. The ministry has also set up a WhatsApp group for direct communication and coordination, including potential moves to Abu Dhabi or Oman for onward travel.

Stranded residents report relative calm despite initial shocks. Pau Augé, a lawyer and tax advisor living in Dubai, described hearing intercepted missiles and drones—around 200 ballistic missiles and 500 kamikaze drones neutralised in 48 hours—causing debris falls near landmarks like the Burj Al Arab and Fairmont hotel. He felt safe at sea near Dubai during blasts but has no plans to leave unless conditions worsen dramatically, praising UAE air defences and authorities' composed response. "Life goes on—zumba classes continue, work persists, though financial markets are closed and schools shifted online," he said. An anonymous Andorran engineer in Tel Aviv, one of two residents there, called the alerts routine, heading to her building's bomb shelter as needed and maintaining normalcy.

Travel agencies report ongoing cancellations to the region until at least March 6, with refunds or rebookings available. Maica Terrones of the Andorran Travel Agencies Association (AAVA) noted four clients affected, two now potentially on a Barcelona-bound repatriation list. Jordi París of the Hoteliers' Union highlighted broader tourism uncertainty.

Tor expressed the government's deep concern over the unpredictable conflict, now involving Lebanon, and called for diplomacy and international law. She advised travellers outside Europe to avoid layovers in affected zones like Qatar, UAE or Kuwait, seek alternative routes, register at exteriors.ad, carry comprehensive insurance, and use the consular emergency line +376 324 292. Authorities warn against unverified social media reports.