<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 200 </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-strike-iran-australian-in-dubai-the-reality-of-being-caught-during-middle-east-war/f24cef0b-6d70-4d5c-8255-5bcdee133a9a" rel="" target="_blank" title="stranded Australians"><span>stranded Australians</span></a><span> have left </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/dubai" rel="" target="_blank" title="Dubai "><span>Dubai</span></a><span> after the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/usa" rel="" target="_blank" title="US"><span>US</span></a><span>-Israeli war on Iran erupted across the Middle East and caused widespread airport closures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emirates flight EK414 safely made it out of the warzone about 9.30am today (AEDT) and is expected to land in Sydney about 10.30pm. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the UAE helped provide a commercial flight.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-taco-chickens-out-iran-war-latest-updates-financial-market-response/e31077c4-dd41-4664-9eeb-9bc76aa5febc" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Could this be the 'ultimate constraint' for Trump amid war with Iran?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said six crisis teams will be heading to the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="_blank" title="Middle East"><span>Middle East</span></a><span> to help stranded </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australians"><span>Australians</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dubai International Airport reopened for limited services earlier this week, days after it was struck by an Iranian retaliatory strike and the airspace was shut.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government estimates there are about 20,000 Australians in the UAE and another 115,000 more in the broader Middle East region.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/dubai-international-airport-flights-everything-to-know-israel-us-iran-strikes-explained/67033c94-da35-4b56-bd30-97aaad72789f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong told the ABC earlier this morning the situation is a "consular crisis that dwarfs any that Australia has had to deal with".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Australia yet to commit to repatriation flights</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia has not yet committed to sending repatriation flights to help stranded citizens abroad.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wong has repeated that repatriation flights are "one of the contingencies we always look at", but insisted that commercial flights would be the fastest way to get the large volume of Australians safely out of the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shadow defence minister James Paterson called on the government to do "everything they can" to help Australians out of the Middle East. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the opposition would offer "unqualified bipartisan support" if military assets were needed to help repatriate them. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-economy-growth-stronger-than-expected/3d2aaffd-f99c-4a7e-a7db-258724e59940" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Good signs' for interest rates after economy growth stronger than expected</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meanwhile, several other nations across the world have begun plans to repatriate their citizens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US has sent free charter flights to evacuate citizens from the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Department of State said it is in contact with 3000 citizens and 9000 have already returned home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The UK has 130,000 citizens in the region and has organised a charter from Oman, Germany has 30,000 citizens and booked a charter from Oman and Saudi Arabia and Italy has already chartered about 500 citizens from the UAE and signalled there will be more to come for the thousands of others.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>France has 400,000 citizens in the Middle East and is preparing to evacuate them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Small number of commercial flights resume</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dubai Airport resumed limited services out of its two international terminals on Tuesday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Priority is being given to departing flights. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport until they have received a confirmed departure time from their airline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and flydubai are also resuming limited flights.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-tropical-cyclone-likely-to-impact-north-queensland/cce61fe3-fba2-4e0e-afd0-fad0e6d67f1c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Heavy rain to lash Queensland as chance of cyclone spikes</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2028874306353258687" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Commercial flights have departed Dubai today for several cities, including London, Manchester, Moscow, Prague, Amsterdam, Budapest, New Delhi and Mumbai.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There were 26 flights cancelled. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Warnings about flight safety</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some flights have been able to safely leave Dubai, but the situation is volatile and airspaces can open and close abruptly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There have also been sporadic warnings to shelter in place due to incoming attacks. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dubai Airport said it is maintaining the "highest standards of operational safety". </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Dubai Airports continues to closely monitor the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities, and our focus remains on maintaining the highest standards of operational safety, security, and well-being of passengers and staff," the airport said on its website. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Smarttraveller warned that airports and aircraft are more vulnerable to attacks and retaliatory strikes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Consider a commercial option to depart if you can secure one, and it is safe to do so," Smarttraveller said in its latest update.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australians-extra-week-of-leave-per-year/3f69eacf-298c-411f-8a61-0e7cc1c35af6" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Unions launch bid to give Aussies an extra week of annual leave</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You should verify the status of any border crossing before you travel by air, land or sea. Make sure you have access to food, water and essential medicines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Consider that airlines may cease operating at short notice, and you may need to find accommodation. Availability of accommodation may be limited."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians are urged not to travel to the region. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>