Kenya Airways revealed plans to operate repatriation flights between
Nairobi and Dubai this week, following approval from Dubai Airport
Management.
The national carrier confirmed in a statement on Wednesday, March 3,
that it will run a Nairobi-Dubai flight on Wednesday and a return
Dubai-Nairobi flight scheduled for March 5.
KQ explained that these flights were approved after securing limited slots
at Dubai International Airport, in accordance with United Arab Emirates
authorities’ guidelines on the partial resumption of operations at the
airport, which commenced on Monday, March 2.
The airline specified that the flights are exclusively for Kenyans who are
residents of the UAE and are unable to leave Nairobi or return to it.
The company has advised travelers to verify their flight status through
the airline’s official website and update their contact information using
the ‘manage booking’ section.
“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your
patience and understanding. The safety of our crew and customers remains our
highest priority, and we will communicate directly with affected customers to
provide the necessary assistance,” the statement read.
The airline clarified, however, that it has not yet resumed full operations
to Dubai and will release additional information in the coming days.
This initiative follows recent developments after the U.S. and Israel launched
an attack on February 28, 2026, targeting strategic locations in Tehran,
which prompted Iran to commence retaliatory actions.
These attacks, primarily coordinated air and missile strikes, have resulted
in multiple explosions across the Middle East, causing airspace closures.
President William Ruto criticized the recent regional events, warning that
Iran’s strikes targeting Gulf countries risk undermining international peace
and security.
Over 400,000 Kenyans are living and working in Gulf nations including Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain which have been affected
by these attacks.
The president emphasized the importance of multilateral diplomacy in resolving
and managing the de-escalation of conflicts.
“At this defining and perilous moment in global history, longstanding
multilateral institutions remain indispensable frameworks for the resolution of
the current crisis in the Middle East,” he added.
On the evening of Saturday, February 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued
another travel and safety advisory for Kenyans in or planning to travel to
the Middle East.
Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu advised Kenyans to register with their
respective Consulate and update their contact details and next of kin through
the diaspora.
Njogu, who assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation,
urged Kenyans in these regions to remain vigilant as the situation remains
fluid and unpredictable, and to comply with instructions and regulations
issued by host governments and security agencies.