Repatriation flight to leave Oman for Helsinki on Sunday

Published : 06 Mar 2026, 14:51

Updated : 06 Mar 2026, 14:57

DF Report

This photo taken on Feb. 5, 2026 shows a street view in Muscat, Oman. File Photo: Xinhua.

The repatriation flight for Finnish citizens and permanent residents, who are currently in the United Arab Emirates is scheduled to leave Oman on Sunday afternoon, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

The flight from Muscat Airport is estimated to depart at 16:00 local time and to arrive in Helsinki around midnight.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise a repatriation flight but all the people, who notified the ministry requesting evacuation could not be accommodated in the flight.

About 600 Finns notified the ministry till Thursday but the chartered aircraft has only 160-seat accommodation capacity.

The ministry is assessing the need for additional repatriation flights but at this stage decided to operate one flight.

Meanwhile, the ministry also decided to reduce the prices for the trip following strong criticism by a group of Finnish people staying in United Arab Emirates, which was published in different Finnish news media.

The price of the repatriation journey is now revised at 1,230 euros per passenger, which was initially fixed at about 2300 euros for air ticket from Oman to Helsinki and 100 euros for bus ticket from the UAE to Oman per person.

The flight ticket now will be 1,150 euros and bus fare from UAE to Oman 40 euros for per adult person while repayment undertaking will be 40 euros.

Repatriation is free for children aged 0–2, and they will travel on a parent’s lap.

The preliminary price was adjusted so that passengers are charged only for the return part of the booked flight, said the ministry.

The ministry will contact all the people who have filled in the form on Friday.

Signing the repayment undertaking will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Friday and Saturday.

Bus transfers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Muscat Airport in Oman will depart early in the morning on Sunday. The bus journey, including border crossing, takes approximately 10 hours.

The ministry also said that the passengers should be prepared for schedule changes.