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Smoke rises above Dubai following an Iranian attack: The airspace above Dubai and parts of the Gulf region remains temporarily closed. <\/p>\n
Keystone \/ AP <\/p>\n
Missile alerts, airspace closures and frantic phone calls from home: the escalation in the Middle East has left Swiss citizens in the region in a state of uncertainty. We spoke to three Swiss nationals, in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman.\n<\/p>\n
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March 4, 2026 – 10:28\n<\/p>\n
The escalation in the Middle East is affecting the Swiss community. Thousands of Swiss nationals live and work in the countries currently under attack by Iran.<\/p>\n
Since the weekend, Swiss nationals in the Middle East have been grappling with practical questions. How serious is the threat? Should we try to leave? When will it even be possible to do so?<\/p>\n
The Swiss foreign ministry is calling on Swiss nationals to follow the instructions issued by local authorities, to observe safety measures and to update their contact details via the online portal.<\/p>\n
No organised departures are planned at this stage. For emergencies, a 24-hour helpline is available in Bern. Swiss diplomatic representations in the affected countries have remained open and are providing support to Swiss nationals as far as possible.<\/p>\n
Local authorities, for instance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have stressed that the supply of food and basic goods is assured. Air defence systems have been activated in several Gulf states. The Swiss foreign ministry is not aware of any Swiss nationals being injured.<\/p>\n
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Foreign Affairs\n <\/p>\n
Over 4,000 Swiss travellers stranded amid conflict in Middle East <\/p>\n
This content was published on <\/p>\n
Mar 2, 2026 <\/p>\n
The Swiss foreign ministry has so far ruled out repatriation assistance as the airspace in the region remains closed, but says it\u2019s looking for a solution. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Read more: Over 4,000 Swiss travellers stranded amid conflict in Middle East So far, there have been no requests for repatriation from Swiss nationals living abroad, the foreign ministry\u2019s head of consular directorate, Marianne Jenni, announced at a media conference on March 2. She is responsible for the crisis centre in Bern, which has been working flat out since February 28 to assist Swiss citizens. Those that have reached out are mainly tourists stranded in the region, rather than expatriates. As Jenni explained, many Swiss citizens living in the affected areas hold dual nationality and are therefore very familiar with the local surroundings.<\/p>\n What is it like when you get an alert on your mobile phone? When you see streaks of light shooting across the sky? When you are called by worried family and friends back home? The following first-hand accounts from Swiss nationals in the UAE, Qatar and Oman show to what extent normality and uncertainty are today intertwined.<\/p>\n From Dubai: \u2018a disturbing feeling\u2019<\/p>\n Rosy Pangari has been living in Dubai since the end of 2025. <\/p>\n zVg <\/p>\n Rosy Pangari, 52, has been living in Dubai since November. Originally from canton Aargau in northern Switzerland, she worked as a coach for many years before moving to Dubai to set up an online business as a career and job coach. For ten years, Dubai was a holiday destination for her. Now she lives in the Downtown district, a stone\u2019s throw from the Burj Khalifa, the world\u2019s tallest building.<\/p>\n When the first strikes hit Dubai, she was terrified. \u201cI panicked,\u201d she told Swissinfo on March 2. The next day, the local government signalled that it was safe. \u201cI haven\u2019<\/a>t left my flat since Saturday, but friends tell me that the restaurants are full.\u201d Many people are going about their business as usual. \u201cIf it weren\u2019t for the sound of the explosions, you could think everything was normal.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, she has been reading reports about the strikes and intercepted missiles. \u201cIt seems the defence system is working; they say it\u2019s just debris coming down.\u201d But she can\u2019t shake off the anxiety. \u201cIt\u2019s a disturbing feeling, when you know missiles are flying overhead.\u201d<\/p>\n Pangari lives on the second floor of a high-rise building. She is now glad of this. \u201cI always thought living high up would be a dream. But the higher you are, the more you see what\u2019s going on. I feel safer lower down.\u201d<\/p>\n For now she\u2019s not thinking about leaving Dubai. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be on a plane in this airspace. I feel safer on the ground.\u201d She first wants to see how things evolve. Her friends and family in Switzerland and Italy \u2013 she has dual Swiss-Italian nationality \u2013 are worried. \u201cI took plenty of time to call everyone and reassure them I was all right,\u201d said Pangari, who moved to Dubai on her own.<\/p>\n She finds that communication from the Swiss embassy has been rather patchy, but she did receive an email with official information.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Swiss Abroad\n <\/p>\n Everything you need to know about the Swiss Abroad <\/p>\n Portraits, politics and perspectives. Sign up for the most relevant coverage of the Swiss Abroad. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Everything you need to know about the Swiss Abroad From Doha: \u2018You get used to certain risks\u2019<\/p>\n A Swiss expatriate in Qatar, meanwhile, has a somewhat different view of things. The 54-year-old from canton Solothurn, in northern Switzerland, wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons. He has worked in the oil business for 25 years, including four years in Iraq, and now manages an energy project in Doha.<\/p>\n He lives in the centre of the Qatari capital. \u201cFrom time to time you can hear a low rumble, like a thunderstorm. Today there was a series of explosions,\u201d he told Swissinfo on March 2. Missile or anti-aircraft trails are sometimes visible in the sky. This doesn\u2019t bother him, he says matter-of-factly, as he is not the target. \u201cI feel safe enough in my hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n He receives alerts directly on his mobile phone. On February 28, dozens of loud alarms sounded in the hotel lobby, followed by instructions to guests to stay indoors. The Swiss expatriate is registered with the embassy and receives information and notifications from the foreign ministry.<\/p>\n He believes there is not much danger for civilians. \u201cI\u2019ve worked in more dangerous countries. You get used to certain risks.\u201d His family lives in the Netherlands, and he normally commutes between Europe and Qatar. He was scheduled to fly in the next few days, but that now hinges on how the situation unfolds. \u201cWe\u2019ll see if I can go.\u201d<\/p>\n The Swiss expat is only indirectly affected by the escalation in hostilities. He has been told to work from home, like during the Covid-19 pandemic, and he knows that the beach clubs are closed and public services are operating at reduced capacity.<\/p>\n Within his international working environment, he has noted different reactions. \u201cSome people are very shaken while others are more composed.\u201d He belongs to the second category.<\/p>\n With regard to the geopolitical dimension, in particular the Strait of Hormuz, he concludes: \u201cThis conflict has the potential to become a mega-conflict. But I don\u2019t think anyone really wants that. I assume reason will prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Swiss Abroad\n <\/p>\n Evacuations out of crisis areas: What you need to know <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n May 9, 2023 <\/p>\n Swiss Abroad who wanted to leave Sudan could not count on help from the Swiss embassy. What aid is the Confederation obliged to provide, if at all? <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Evacuations out of crisis areas: What you need to know Oman: \u2018The shops are full and people seem calm\u2019<\/p>\n Franz and Pia Feldmann are currently travelling in Oman. <\/p>\n zVg <\/p>\n Franz Feldmann, 61, has been travelling with his wife Pia since September 2024External link<\/a>. They are now in Oman. The situation is hard to assess, he says, as they are far from the major cities. \u201cBasically, it\u2019s all calm,\u201d he told Swissinfo by phone.<\/p>\n The couple knows there have been some strikes, for instance on the port city of Duqm, but they haven\u2019t heard anything where they are. \u201cThe shops are full and people seem calm.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the geopolitical situation is wreaking havoc with their plans. Their visas expire on March 10 and they are now wondering how best to continue their journey. They had originally intended to travel to Dubai and from there to Turkey via Iraq. \u201cIt\u2019s all a bit up in the air; we don\u2019t know exactly what we\u2019ll do next.\u201d<\/p>\n As he sees it, the situation is neither threatening nor dangerous. \u201cWe can reassure everyone that it feels the same here as before.\u201d Compared to Dubai, where friends of theirs have reported explosions, Oman could well be the safest option at the moment, he believes.<\/p>\n More than 4,000 Swiss tourists are currently stranded in the region. \u201cNo one knows how long this situation will last,\u201d says Jenni, the head of the consular directorate in Bern. To date, the foreign ministry helpline has responded personally to around 1,000 enquiries and handled 1,200 calls automatically. However, the helpline staff can often only refer people to the options currently available.<\/p>\n Many tourists are stuck in their hotels.<\/a> The foreign ministry is in contact with Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) to explore solutions. However, concrete action will only be possible once the airspace is re-opened. The main thing for now is that all travellers register on the Travel Admin app.<\/p>\n Swiss helpline <\/p>\n Swiss nationals in the Middle East are advised to follow instructions issued by local authorities and to contact their airline or travel agency directly. They are also encouraged to register on the Travel Admin app.External link<\/a><\/p>\n The Swiss foreign ministry helpline is available 24 hours a day on +41 800 24 7 365 \/ +41 58 465 33 33 or by email at helpline@eda.admin.ch. <\/p>\n The Swiss ministry has also broadened its travel advisories for the Middle East. It now advises against tourist and non-essential travel to Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Inside SWI\n <\/p>\n Swiss foreign ministry Travel Admin App <\/p>\n The Travel Admin App from the Swiss foreign ministry helps travellers prepare for their trips and provides useful information and services. In a crisis, the app can help organise the return of Swiss citizens stranded abroad. <\/p>\n
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