The reason: Commercial flight connections are only available to a limited extent, while at the same time wealthy expats and business people are trying to leave the region as quickly as possible.

Dubai is considered one of the most stable locations in the Middle East. But recent military tensions in the region have significantly increased nervousness among international residents.

Iran War: Charter prices double within a few days

The market for private jets has been particularly hard hit. Charter companies report a surge in demand since the weekend.

• Private jet Dubai–Europe or Dubai–Asia for a family of four: up to $250,000
• A few days ago: about $120,000 to $150,000 for comparable routes

Prices have also risen sharply on the ground:

• Taxi or chauffeur ride from Dubai to Muscat (Oman) or Riyadh (Saudi Arabia): currently from around 5000 dollars
• Before the weekend: usually 300 to 800 dollars for the same routes

The price jump is therefore significant. Private jet charters are sometimes twice as expensive as they were a few days ago. Overland journeys now cost up to ten times as much as before.

There is also a logistical problem: even available aircraft are sometimes difficult to start because fuel and slots are scarce. In individual cases, the situation at the airport was so tense that charter customers massively pressured their crews to speed up departures, reports the Financial Times. Pilots then searched the tarmac for available ground personnel or tankers in order to enable takeoff as quickly as possible.

Foreigners dominate the population of the Emirates

The nervousness can also be explained by the special structure of the population in the United Arab Emirates. Around ninety percent of the residents are foreigners, many work in the financial sector, in trade or in multinational corporations. Dubai is considered a global hub for the wealthy, entrepreneurs and international professionals.

When geopolitical risks rise, these groups react particularly quickly. For many, the city is a temporary place to live and work and mobility is correspondingly high.

At the same time, Dubai acts as a regional hub airport. Restrictions in airspace therefore have an immediate impact on international connections.

However, such flights are limited. They are aimed primarily at citizens without alternative options for leaving the country.

Private jet providers particularly benefit in crises

The current situation once again shows a pattern that can be regularly observed in geopolitical crises: When commercial flight connections are restricted, private jet providers benefit greatly in the short term. Similar increases in demand have already occurred during the Covid pandemic, the Russian attack on Ukraine and previous regional conflicts in the Middle East.

For wealthy customers, the price often plays a minor role. The most important thing is speed and the guarantee of getting a seat.