No:071/26, Response by Aykhan Hajizada, Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the media inquiry regarding the evacuation of our citizens in the Middle East region
04 March 2026 21:01
Question: In light of the ongoing tense military situation in the Middle East, what are the latest updates regarding the condition of Azerbaijani citizens remaining in the region and the steps taken towards their evacuation?
Answer: From the very first day of the military escalation, our Embassies and Consulates General located in the region have been operating under an enhanced mode, and measures are being taken to provide appropriate support to our citizens.
So far, with the exception of one individual, no Azerbaijani citizens have been injured.
As for the evacuation of our citizens, today, by a special flight operated by Azerbaijan Airlines, 193 Azerbaijani citizens, 9 Azerbaijani-origin citizens of Georgia, and 5 Azerbaijani-origin citizens of Russia were evacuated to our country from the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
In addition, the return of our citizens located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to our country is being carried out by the relevant airlines of the UAE through regular flights. Yesterday, a total of 257 Azerbaijani citizens returned to our country. One regular flight from the city of Dubai is scheduled for today, and two regular flights are scheduled for March 5.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to evacuate 200 of our citizens currently in Qatar by a special flight organized by our country. It should be noted that due to the closure of Qatari airspace, it is planned to evacuate our citizens via the territory of Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, in accordance with the travel advisory issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Azerbaijani citizens currently in Iran are exiting the country through the land borders of Azerbaijan and Türkiye, depending on their location. So far, 260 of our citizens have crossed into Azerbaijan.
Our citizens currently in the region are requested to closely monitor the security situation, follow the instructions and recommendations of local authorities, avoid crowded places, and strengthen their personal safety precautions.
