Oman Becomes Unlikely Hub for Evacuees Fleeing War in Gulf

Turki Al-Balushi reported from Muscat, Oman, and Ismaeel Naar reported from Dubai.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by The international airport in Muscat, the Omani capital, has remained open while fighting in the region has escalated”

New York Times

Oman has long cultivated a reputation as a quiet mediator in a turbulent Middle East, maintaining diplomatic ties with both Tehran and Washington and serving as a vital backchannel between the United States and Iran, including in the days before U.S.-Israeli strikes hit Iran.

New York Times

As fighting in the region escalated and air travel snarled for thousands, Oman has taken on another role: an evacuation hub for tourists, expatriates and business executives stranded in the neighboring United Arab Emirates.

The international airport in Muscat has remained fully operational while nearby airspace was partially closed.

For many people trying to leave Dubai, the most viable route has been a nearly five-hour drive east to Oman.

That land route became one of a few vital lifelines as airlines struggled to reroute flights and foreign governments scrambled to evacuate citizens amid a barrage of strikes during the first several days of the war.

New York Times

The article profiles Vanessa Teske, a 30-year-old visiting Dubai from Munich, who fled after emergency alerts urged residents to stay away from windows and seek shelter.

After her flight was canceled, she and her partner rented a car with a private driver, and crossing the border into Oman took more than an hour with cars lining up.

Oman has remained largely insulated from the fighting.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by The international airport in Muscat, the Omani capital, has remained open while fighting in the region has escalated”

New York Times

It criticized joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran; Oman's foreign minister told Washington "this is not your war" and warned the attacks had undermined diplomatic efforts.

The Oman state news agency cited the government as saying it had come under drone attacks targeting its ports and one vessel near the port of Khasab in the Strait of Hormuz.

Official statements did not explicitly blame Iran.

These developments highlight Oman's dual role as a mediator and as a practical evacuation hub.

The reported drone attacks indicate a risk of regional spillover even though attribution of those attacks is not specified in official statements.