The South African government is urging its citizens in the Middle East to contact their nearest embassies as airspace closures continue to prevent repatriation following escalating tensions in the region. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed on March 2nd, 2026, that evacuations are currently “impossible” while regional airspace remains restricted.
The airspace closures, impacting countries including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, were triggered by retaliatory strikes following attacks involving the United States and Israel against Iranian targets. This has caused what officials are calling the biggest disruption to global air transport since the COVID-19 pandemic, with major hubs like Dubai and Doha Airports shuttered and thousands of flights cancelled. Airlines including Emirates, Etihad, Air France, British Airways, Air India, Turkish Airlines, and Lufthansa have suspended services.
DIRCO Head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, explained that the immediate priority is to account for South African nationals in the affected areas. “When countries are at war, in the manner that is happening with missiles and all of that, the first thing they do is to shut down the airspace… if anything is up there, you shoot it down, due to the fact that you don’t know whether it’s a missile or an aeroplane,” Monyela stated. He added that the department does not have a confirmed figure for the number of South Africans currently in the region, noting that South Africans are not required to inform the government of their travel plans.
DIRCO has issued an advisory urging citizens to register with the embassies accredited to their countries of residence. The department acknowledged that its ability to provide face-to-face consular assistance in an emergency may be limited, and that government assistance may not be possible depending on location. Monyela stated via X (formerly Twitter) on March 1st, 2026, that the department is in contact with South Africans through various communication platforms and that all diplomatic missions have evacuation plans in place, with “various interventions and options” being explored.
Approximately 18,000 South Africans are registered with the South African mission in the United Arab Emirates alone, according to DIRCO. However, officials are facing communication challenges, with internet access reportedly disrupted in some areas. The South African government has expressed “deep concern” regarding the escalation of tensions, stating that these developments pose a “serious threat to regional and international peace.”
As of March 2nd, 2026, DIRCO has released a security advisory and travel readiness guidance for South African citizens in the State of Israel, available for download on its website. The department continues to monitor the situation and awaits the reopening of airspace to facilitate the return of South African citizens stranded in the Middle East and Gulf regions.
