Overview
- Authorities closed the island’s airspace due to rising regional tensions involving Yemen, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
- The weekly Air Arabia flight from Abu Dhabi is suspended indefinitely, cutting the sole regular civilian link to the archipelago.
- Headcounts differ, with local officials citing 416 visitors, another report stating 650, and at least 86 among the stranded identified as Italian.
- Italy’s crisis unit and Foreign Ministry are coordinating with tour operators and the embassy in Riyadh to arrange returns, with no evacuation plan confirmed.
- Tourists report being safe but face scarce lodging, limited potable water and cash withdrawal caps, while a cargo-ship transfer to Oman is viewed as difficult.