On Sunday evening, Minister of Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel provided an update on the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, with particular focus on Luxembourg residents currently in the region.
He described the situation as extremely volatile, warning that any assessment made today could be outdated by tomorrow. For the government, he stressed, the immediate priority is the safety of citizens who are either stranded in the region or reside there.
Bettel underlined that the escalation does not concern Iran alone but is also affecting neighbouring countries. Over the past 48 hours, he has held telephone discussions with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, as well as participating in an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting with his 27 counterparts. The objective, he said, was to assess developments and coordinate a common approach.
Referring to the death of Iran’s political and religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bettel said few would mourn him. However, he noted that he could not determine whether the recent attacks carried out by Israel and the United States were fully in line with international law. He reiterated that international law provides essential procedures and safeguards, particularly for small countries such as Luxembourg, for which it represents the strongest guarantee of protection.
With much of the region’s airspace currently closed, civilian departures are difficult, if not impossible. Bettel echoed recommendations shared by authorities in the Gulf states, urging people to remain where they are and avoid taking uncalculated risks.
While isolated exit options may still exist, he cautioned that there are no guarantees that borders or airports will remain open, nor that transport will be available. He stressed that residents have been advised to stay in their hotels and follow official security instructions issued by local authorities, even though attempting to leave via land borders is not formally prohibited.
Director for Consular Affairs and International Cultural Relations André Biever emphasised the importance of the Luxembourgers Abroad (LamA) registration platform, which allows the ministry to identify and locate nationals overseas. Only those registered can be contacted and assisted efficiently.
Following a public appeal, registrations in the United Arab Emirates rose sharply within hours, from 38 to more than 200, they said. The foreign ministry’s team subsequently contacted those individuals directly to provide updated guidance.
As of Sunday evening, 213 people were registered in the UAE, 13 in Saudi Arabia, nine in Israel, and four in Jordan. No registrations have yet been recorded in Iran, Bahrain, or Kuwait.
Residents of Luxembourg who are not Luxembourg nationals but are currently in the region have also been encouraged to register. In crisis situations, the priority is to ensure authorities can reach and guide as many people as possible.
Luxair CEO Gilles Feith confirmed that the airline has activated a crisis unit of around 100 staff members since Saturday. Passenger and crew safety remains the top priority. Luxair is in close contact with the Foreign Ministry and Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes.
Flights from Luxembourg to Dubai scheduled for 3 and 4 March are highly likely to be cancelled in order to avoid sending additional passengers into a risk zone. Current recommendations from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) strongly discourage European airlines from entering UAE and regional airspace. Luxair, Feith stressed, will not take unnecessary risks.
According to Feith, approximately 300 Luxair passengers are currently in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with additional travellers scheduled to return in the coming days, bringing the total number of affected customers to nearly 500.
For package holiday clients and many other passengers, Luxair has arranged hotel accommodation, with additional rooms secured in advance should further need arise.
Customers who organised their own travel are advised to extend their stay until at least 5 March. Those holding tickets to Dubai up to 8 March may rebook free of charge, while alternative destinations are being offered to package clients.
Luxair is also preparing potential evacuation flights, Feith confirmed. However, even if airspace reopens, a backlog of aircraft and limited capacity would mean that operations cannot resume immediately, he said.
Bettel emphasised the importance of a coordinated European response, particularly regarding evacuations. When asked why Europe does not speak with one voice more quickly, he suggested that one member state often slows down joint conclusions, a reference widely understood to mean Hungary.
