Flight from Dubai to Dublin to depart tonight as Middle East conflict continues

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut's southern suburb, Lebanon, Wednesday, March 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

It is hoped that hundreds of Irish citizens will be able to depart the Middle East on a flight from Dubai later today.

As the conflict enters its fifth day, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee has confirmed a Dubai flight will leave for Dublin this evening. 

The flight will be operated by Emirates Airlines and is due to leave Dubai International Airport at 6pm.

The Embassy of Ireland in the United Arab Emirates said the airline will be in touch with passengers on their list who have had flights cancelled.

Positive development. Emirates have decided to run a flight from Dubai to Dublin later today. 

"We are in close touch with the airline. They will be in direct contact with passengers whose flights were cancelled," Ms McEntee shared on X.

Three more flights are due to land in Dublin from Dubai on Thursday.

Following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Ms McEntee had confirmed that there are around 24,000 Irish citizens currently in the region, including long-term residents, holidaymakers and those transiting through airports.

She also confirmed that the Irish Government will charter flights, with up to 280 people expected to be offered seats on a plane in the coming days.

Meanwhile, explosions sounded in Iran’s capital city on Wednesday as its war with the US and Israel entered a fifth day.

The latest attacks followed earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic across the Gulf region.

Iranian state television reported explosions around Tehran as dawn broke while Israel said its air defences were activated due to incoming missile fire from Iran.

US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran, according to the Red Crescent Society.

In Lebanon, where Israel launched retaliatory strikes on the Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah, 50 people were killed, including seven children, Lebanon’s health ministry said.

- More to follow