The Swedish Foreign Ministry has announced a significant reduction in the number of stranded Swedes in the Middle East due to ongoing conflicts. Initially, thousands were stranded, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, but now the number has dwindled to a few hundred as evacuation efforts gain momentum. Svante Liljegren, the head of consular affairs at the Ministry, confirmed that full flights are now operating daily from Dubai to Stockholm, indicating that the situation is improving.

As the conflict in Iran has severely affected air travel in the region, many Swedes were left without means to return home. The Foreign Ministry, which had deployed emergency teams to assist these citizens, is now retracting those teams from their initial locations in Abu Dhabi and Doha as the situation stabilizes. The travel companies Ving, Apollo, and Tui have reported successfully returning many of their customers, easing the backlog of stranded individuals who had previously traveled to the area for vacation or business.

The gradual resumption of air traffic is providing hope for those still remaining in the region. With 320 people flying from Dubai to Stockholm on a single day, it is anticipated that many more will follow as flights become more frequent. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the improvement for stranded Swedes and the importance of safe returns amid ongoing regional tensions.