Mohan Sinha
07 Mar 2026

DUBAI, U.A.E: Even as thousands of airline passengers are stranded across the Gulf region due to the war, some wealthy travelers are getting out by paying large sums for luxury flights to Europe.

Charter flight bookings have jumped sharply, with some passengers paying up to 200,000 euros (US$232,000), after key airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha closed when the conflict began last weekend.

People are trying to leave Dubai — long considered a safe and high-end destination — by driving to other cities. Some make the four-hour journey to Muscat in Oman, while others travel more than 10 hours to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. From there, they attempt to catch one of the few commercial flights still operating or arrange a private charter, though prices have climbed steeply since the fighting started.

Altay Kula, head of the France-based private jet broker JET-VIP, said demand far exceeds supply, with too few aircraft available. He noted that a private jet from Riyadh to Porto, Portugal, which would typically cost about 100,000 euros ($115,800) for up to 16 passengers, is now roughly double that price.

Kula said the increase is driven by limited aircraft availability, repositioning expenses, and higher operational risks, not price gouging.

Ameerh Naran, CEO of Vimana Private Jets, said fares vary based on departure location, aircraft type, and route limits. He said flights from the Gulf to Europe are now priced between 150,000 euros ($173,800) and 200,000 euros.

To get to operating airports such as Riyadh and Muscat, some travelers are hiring private security firms to organize ground transport, using everything from standard cars to full-size coaches.