Nearly 400 Bulgarian citizens returned home from Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Wednesday following escalating conflict in the Middle East, Bulgarian media reported.
Evacuations were carried out on three flights, including a government plane that landed at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport early Wednesday morning with 85 passengers, slightly fewer than initially planned. Those returning reported that pre-departure arrangements were well organized.
“It was frightening; we saw rockets. Children did not understand, but it was unpleasant for adults,” said Natalia Ucherdzhieva, one of the evacuees. Another, Silvia Aleksandrova, described calm conditions at her hotel in Abu Dhabi, noting that authorities covered all expenses amid the ongoing regional hostilities.
Separately, over 100 Bulgarians on vacation in the Maldives remain stranded due to canceled flights and limited available seats. Many reported difficulties obtaining essential medicines and appealed to the Bulgarian government for financial assistance to arrange charter flights home.
Bulgaria’s fuel supply remains stable despite rising global oil prices, Rumen Spetsov, managing director of Lukoil Bulgaria, told reporters, emphasizing that domestic deliveries have not been disrupted.
The evacuations come after Turkey intercepted a missile fired from Iran toward its airspace, prompting NATO discussions on regional security risks and highlighting growing tensions in the Middle East.
Bulgarian authorities continue to coordinate repatriation efforts for citizens in the region and advise travelers to monitor official channels for updates.