Flydubai is expected to operate at least two flights from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Sunday, offering a possible way home for hundreds of Israelis stranded in the United Arab Emirates since the war with Iran began.
The flights, announced by the Transport Ministry and subject to the security situation, come as regional air travel has been heavily disrupted. Airspace over Israel was largely closed when the war broke out and has only partially reopened. In the Gulf, Iran has fired missiles toward Dubai and Abu Dhabi, prompting periodic airspace closures there as well.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry said about 9,000 foreign tourists have left Israel since the start of the military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Roaring Lion, while about 28,000 remain in the country, down from nearly 37,000 at the start of the operation.
To help tourists depart, the ministry has organized daily shuttle services to the Taba border crossing with Egypt. Buses leave from several locations across the country, stopping in Eilat to allow tourists to exit via Aqaba in Jordan before continuing to Taba for departures through Egypt.
The ministry is also placing residents whose homes were damaged by missile strikes in hotels. About 2,000 people have been accommodated so far, mainly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
An inter-ministerial steering committee has been established to address aviation and transit challenges during the conflict, including compiling an updated list of tourists seeking to leave and setting priorities for rescue flights.