Americans in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel Urged to Register for Departure Assistance

More than 17,500 U.S. citizens have returned from the Middle East since Operation Epic Fury began on Feb. 28.

Passengers arrive from a Dubai flight at Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport on March 4, 2026. Izhar Khan/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. State Department is asking Americans in Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to register online for receiving assistance from authorities to leave the region amid the conflict with Iran, according to a March 4 post on X.

“To receive departure assistance information from the Department of State about available aviation and ground transportation options, please fill out the following form: http://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake,” the post said. Once citizens register at step.state.gov, the State Department can directly identify them and work to charter flights quickly.

Americans can contact the State Department directly at [phone] for assistance.

In the UAE, the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said in a March 3 post on X that they encourage U.S. citizens to consider departing the country if they can do so safely.

“Some flights are now departing international airports in the UAE. Land borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia are also open at this time, with reports of congestion,” the bureau said.

Americans in Saudi Arabia can depart via commercial air from Riyadh and Jeddah, the bureau said in a March 3 post on X. However, there may be limited flights, which could be subject to changes and cancellations.

In Qatar, the Hamad International Airport has suspended all aircraft movements due to the temporary closure of the country’s airspace. Qatar’s maritime routes also remain closed.

“The Salwa land border crossing to Saudi Arabia is open. The U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety if you choose to depart using this option,” the bureau said. The Salwa crossing connects Saudi Arabia to Qatar.

In another X post, the bureau asked for personnel and family members in the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem and Embassy Branch Office, Tel Aviv, to continue to shelter in place. It recommended that all Americans in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank remain in shelter until further notice.

According to an updated travel advisory, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen have been designated as “Level 4: Do Not Travel” nations, the bureau said.

Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are tagged with a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” designation. Israel is also classified Level 3 together with the West Bank region, while Gaza is at Level 4.

A “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” designation was issued for Egypt.

In other updates, the bureau said it revised travel advisories for Pakistan and Cyprus to reflect the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel from these regions.

17,500 Americans Return

Dylan Johnson, the assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, said in a post on X that authorities have assisted nearly 6,500 Americans abroad, including by providing security guidance and travel assistance, through the State Department’s 24/7 Task Force.

“Since Feb. 28, over 17,500 American citizens have returned to the United States from the Middle East—with over 8,500 American citizens returning to the U.S. yesterday alone,” Johnson said.

“Many more Americans have left the Middle East to other countries in Europe and Asia, and others have safely departed the Middle East but are still in transit back to the U.S.”

According to some estimates, there are 500,000 to over a million Americans currently residing in the Middle East.

During a briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration was “actively and rapidly working to charter flights,” and will announce additional measures to evacuate Americans from the region in the coming days.

The conflict, now in its fifth day on Wednesday, began after U.S. and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 under Operation Epic Fury.

According to Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command, the U.S. military has deployed over 50,000 troops, 200 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, and bombers as part of the operation.

During a March 4 Pentagon news briefing, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the Iranian airspace would soon become uncontested.

“Starting last night and to be completed in a few days, in under a week, the two most powerful air forces in the world will have complete control of Iranian skies,” Hegseth said.