Illustrative photo
As part of this operation, according to Bakayev, it is planned to evacuate Kazakhstanis living in the UAE and Qatar through neighboring countries. "Today we expect to deliver 467 people from the capital of Oman, and tomorrow – 343 citizens from Jeddah. This is the first group that will depart," he clarified.
According to him, the first convoy of buses has already left Dubai heading to Oman, and by the end of the day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects to return 467 Kazakhstanis. At the same time, a second flight is being organized from Qatar to Saudi Arabia, where Kazakhstanis will be transported to Riyadh and then to Jeddah.
“From Jeddah, we will be returning citizens of Kazakhstan on our flights,” the deputy minister added.
Bakayev also reported that the day before, about 17 citizens of Kazakhstan were successfully returned from Iran through Turkmenistan. “The Turkmen authorities allowed the crossing of the border, and our citizens are already heading to Kazakhstan,” he noted.
Transport Minister Nurlan Sauranbaev, in turn, reported that there are currently about 5,000 Kazakhstanis in the Middle East.
“Currently, single flights are being organized to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and through Turkey. There is also a route that returns to Saudi Arabia and then goes through Pakistan to Kazakhstan,” he explained.
In addition, Sauranbaev noted that the airlines Air Astana and ScatCAT have prepared six aircraft ready to take off immediately after the airspace is opened.
Deputy Transport Minister Talgat Lastayev added that the first two flights of Fly Dubai have already departed, bringing 306 Kazakhstanis back to Astana and Almaty.
