ZAGREB, 5 March 2026 – Croatia is closely monitoring the escalating conflict in the Middle East and is prepared to introduce measures to protect citizens and the economy should the crisis impact energy prices, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said on Thursday.
Opening a government session, Plenković addressed the rapidly developing situation following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran on Saturday, HRT reported.
The prime minister noted that Croatia is working closely with partners in the European Union and NATO while emphasising the need to protect civilians, maintain regional stability and encourage a return to diplomatic negotiations to prevent further escalation.
Plenković warned that a prolonged conflict could have significant humanitarian and security consequences, including potential new refugee flows.
He also highlighted the economic risks if the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz were to close, which could trigger sharp increases in global oil and gas prices and create new inflationary pressures.
“Croatia has experience from previous crises and we are prepared to respond if energy prices rise,” Plenković said. “If necessary, the government will introduce measures such as limiting energy prices and other forms of support for citizens and businesses.”
The government is also focused on assisting Croatian nationals currently in the region.
According to Plenković, some citizens have found themselves stranded due to strict aviation restrictions and limited flight operations.
“We are aware that a number of Croatian citizens have found themselves stranded in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait or in Israel itself,” Plenković said.
He added that the Croatian Government is working to ensure their return as quickly as possible despite strict aviation security measures and limited airport slots.
“In these extraordinary circumstances, with strict civil aviation security restrictions and a limited number of landing and take-off permits at airports, particularly in Dubai, the Government, together with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and other services, is taking all available measures to enable Croatian citizens who have requested assistance to return to Croatia as soon as possible,” he said.
Evacuations already completed
Speaking about evacuation efforts so far, Plenković stressed that the majority of Croatian citizens have already left the crisis-affected areas.
“All Croatian citizens who wished to leave Iran, Israel and Jordan have now been fully evacuated,” he said.
He added that a number of citizens had also been evacuated from Oman.
“Several Croatian citizens were evacuated from Oman and travelled onwards to Croatia via Istanbul or Rome. A few remaining individuals have the option of travelling to the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai, where further arrangements for their return will be organised,” Plenković explained.
Around 20 Croatian citizens who are residents in Oman remain there but have the option of returning to Europe on commercial flights.
“All Croatian citizens have been directed to our embassies or to the Consulate General in Dubai, where they receive information on security recommendations, contacts and evacuation options,” he said.
Repatriation flights underway
The Prime Minister also confirmed that repatriation flights are already being organised.
“A Croatia Airlines aircraft with a capacity of 149 seats is currently on its way to Dubai Airport. It is expected to depart from the UAE later this afternoon or evening and land in Zagreb tonight,” Plenković said.
He added that the Government is prepared to organise additional flights depending on how the situation develops.
“We are ready to organise three more repatriation flights using aircraft that would be sent from Croatia to the United Arab Emirates, depending on developments on the ground and the needs that arise,” he said.
Plenković emphasised that the return of Croatian citizens is being organised in cooperation with the authorities in the United Arab Emirates.
“In cooperation with the UAE government and their airlines, we have arranged for two aircraft currently in Dubai to be filled with Croatian citizens tonight through organised transport financed by the Croatian state and Government. In this way, more than 300 people will be brought from the Emirates,” he said.
Some citizens are also returning on commercial flights.
“During the morning, almost 40 Croatian citizens will arrive on a commercial flight from the UAE,” the Prime Minister added.
He stressed that all efforts are being coordinated through Croatia’s diplomatic network and information gathered from citizens currently in Gulf countries.
“In the first phase, most of the people involved are those who were there temporarily, on holiday, tourism or short stays,” he said.
The Government is also in contact with Croatian citizens who live in the UAE.
“We are now also in contact with residents, of whom there are around 2,000 in the Emirates, and we are ready to help them return to Croatia as well,” Plenković concluded.
Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia have dispatched a Croatia Airlines aircraft, via Heraklion, with a capacity of 149 seats, for the repatriation of the most vulnerable groups of Croatian citizens in the United Arab Emirates.
The expected departure of the aircraft from Dubai is today, 5 March, at approximately 17:30 local time, while arrival in Zagreb is planned for around 22:40 Croatian time.
The Republic of Croatia is the first Member State of the European Union to obtain authorisation for the use of national aircraft to repatriate its citizens from the United Arab Emirates.
In addition to this flight, two further charter flights operated by local carriers are planned, with a total capacity of 340 seats. The expected departure of these aircraft from Dubai is scheduled for today, 5 March, in the late afternoon local time. More detailed information on these flights will be published tomorrow morning.
The same charter flights on the Dubai–Zagreb route are also planned for the following day, Friday, 6 March, likewise with a total capacity of 340 seats.
The Croatian Embassy in Doha has also secured an additional 30 seats for Croatian citizens on tomorrow’s flight of an Austrian airline from Riyadh to Vienna.
Tomorrow will also see the completion of the repatriation of all Croatian citizens who requested return from the Sultanate of Oman. The remaining 19 Croatian citizens will be evacuated on an Austrian carrier’s flight to Vienna.
We also recall that the Republic of Croatia has already successfully carried out a number of evacuation activities. All Croatian citizens in Israel and Jordan who requested evacuation have already been repatriated.