Shavkat Mirziyoyev Orders Emergency Evacuation of Uzbek Citizens from Persian Gulf

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has issued an urgent directive to orchestrate the mass evacuation of Uzbek nationals currently situated in Persian Gulf states. The announcement was confirmed by Khushnudbek Khudayberdiev, Deputy Director of the Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA).

The executive order was formally transmitted to Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. Following this mandate, a high-level video conference was held at the Cabinet of Ministers on 2 March 2026 to define specific tactical objectives for the safe and orderly repatriation of compatriots.

Under the emergency plan, all domestic air carriers in Uzbekistan have been instructed to prioritize the return of citizens from across the Gulf region. Government officials noted that the Jeddah–Tashkent corridor has been identified as a critical priority, given the high concentration of Uzbek nationals currently in Saudi Arabia.

The Prime Minister’s office is tasked with coordinating logistics between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, and regional diplomatic missions to ensure that transport capacity meets the immediate demand for exit flights. This mobilization follows a series of diplomatic consultations regarding the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.