Canadians Stranded as Middle East Travel Disrupted by Conflict
TORONTO – Thousands of Canadians are facing significant travel disruptions across the Middle East as escalating conflict continues to ground flights and leave tourists scrambling for alternative routes home. As of Wednesday, Global Affairs Canada has registered over 106,000 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the Gulf region, a number that has been steadily increasing since Sunday.
The situation is particularly acute for those attempting to depart from or transit through countries directly impacted by the unrest. Kimball and Ravi Sarin, Canadian brothers, found their flight from Sri Lanka cancelled on Saturday, leaving them stranded. “We had another flight. We’ve been refused twice at the airport,” Kimball Sarin told Global News. Ravi Sarin added to the urgency, explaining he is running low on essential medication and has only a few days’ supply remaining.
While Global Affairs Canada is not currently offering assisted departures, it has increased staffing at consulates in countries bordering Iran to provide visa assistance and support to Canadians seeking to leave the region. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is operating buses to the Menachem Begin border crossing between Eilat and Taba, Egypt, as a potential exit point.
The disruption extends beyond those already in the region. Travel Health Insurance Association representative Will McAleer advises travellers in affected areas to understand their options, which may involve remaining in place if air travel is impossible.
Canadians in Doha are also facing difficulties, with airspace remaining closed. Stephen Lougheed, with a group of Queen’s University students returning from a field trip in Sri Lanka, is currently in Qatar. He described the situation as volatile, noting that while there have been lulls in hostilities, conditions can change rapidly. “It’s closed air space because there are still missiles and drones flying,” Lougheed said.
Further complicating matters, a Quebec woman reported difficulties reaching her sister, Stephanie Agathiadis, who is stranded in Qatar after a stopover during a return trip from Thailand and Vietnam. “Missiles are flying left and right,” Stephanie Agathiadis told Global News.
Some Canadians are attempting to rebook flights through alternative routes. The Sarin brothers have secured seats on a flight to Toronto via Hong Kong scheduled for Friday, but remain cautious about whether it will proceed as planned. The journey is expected to take approximately 35 hours.
The Canadian government continues to monitor the situation closely, but for many Canadians in the Middle East, the path home remains uncertain.
