Andorra Monitors Stranded Nationals in Middle East Crisis

Andorra's government is closely monitoring the situation of nationals stranded in the Middle East amid the escalating crisis, with airspace closures preventing their return home.

Head of Government Xavier Espot highlighted two residents in Israel, four in Dubai, and an unspecified number of others in transit who remain blocked due to flight restrictions. He urged them to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel while instability persists. "We won't be entirely at ease until they can return home," Espot said, adding that no repatriation is currently needed. He also expressed solidarity with civilians in the affected areas, while emphasising that this does not imply support for any regimes destabilised by the conflict. Espot called for the situation to de-escalate swiftly through peaceful means, stressing that any dispute must be contained and resolved diplomatically.

The government maintains constant contact with Spain's consulates across the region, ready to coordinate assistance or evacuation if aerial restrictions prolong or security worsens. Middle Eastern airports, among the world's busiest as hubs between Europe and Asia, have seen major disruptions. Carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad handle around 90,000 passengers daily; flights are now rerouted south over Saudi Arabia, adding hours and fuel costs that will raise ticket prices. Last Saturday, at least 145 planes bound for cities like Tel Aviv or Dubai diverted to Athens, Istanbul, or Rome, with others returning to origin.

Violence has hit key facilities: workers at Dubai International Airport reported four injuries from an Iraqi attack, while Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport saw one death and seven injuries in a drone strike. Kuwait's main airport also faced assaults.

Global markets await reactions today to the joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, with analysts forecasting oil prices nearing €100 per barrel, equity market volatility, and a rush to safe-haven assets like gold. The energy sector faces the sharpest blow. A contained conflict would yield a strong but manageable impact; broader escalation, especially disrupting the Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of global oil and major liquefied natural gas volumes pass—could trigger a worldwide economic crisis worse than the Iraq War or Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion.

The chaos may also affect thousands of Middle Eastern and Asian visitors headed to the Mobile World Congress starting Monday in Barcelona.