Wealthy expats flee Gulf via Saudi Arabia as evacuation packages reach $200,000

2026-03-05 - 14:06

With commercial flights suspended or severely limited in neighboring aviation centers, the Kingdom is stepping in to manage the overflow, facilitating the movement of passengers out of the region and assisting in the repatriation of individuals stranded abroad. Demand for private evacuation services has surged sharply. Wealthy expatriates are reportedly paying between $150,000 and $200,000 for comprehensive evacuation packages. Private jet bookings have increased by about 40 percent since Saturday, reflecting the growing urgency among travelers seeking to leave the region. Short-haul extraction flights, such as those from Muscat to Riyadh, are costing approximately $30,000, while long-distance charter flights to Western Europe are priced at nearly $100,000, according to aviation sources. Riyadh has become a principal evacuation hub for wealthy residents and senior executives seeking to leave the Gulf amid escalating regional tensions. Citing people familiar with the arrangements, Semafor reported that private security firms have been hiring fleets of SUVs to transport clients to the Saudi capital before arranging chartered aircraft departures. Those being evacuated include senior figures at global financial institutions as well as affluent individuals who had been in the Gulf for business or leisure. The surge in demand has sharply increased costs.