UAE tourism agency to cover accommodation costs of stranded Hungarians

The Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has assured Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó that the country will use “all available means” to protect Hungarian citizens currently staying there, while the national tourism agency will cover accommodation costs for tourists stranded by the escalating conflict.

Speaking in Budapest on Sunday, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the situation in the Middle East had deteriorated sharply. “Hundreds of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, have targeted the United Arab Emirates, where thousands of Hungarians are currently spending their holidays,” he said. A total of 2,271 Hungarians have registered for consular protection.

Thousands of Hungarians in the country

Szijjártó added that he had recently spoken by phone with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who said their own data shows around 4,200 Hungarian citizens are presently in the UAE. In total, some 600,000 Europeans are believed to be in the country.

“The foreign minister assured me that they will protect all foreigners on their territory with every possible tool, including Hungarian citizens,” Szijjártó said.

Authorities have also decided that the UAE’s tourism agency will pay for the accommodation of tourists unable to leave. Although land crossings towards Oman remain open, officials are urging everyone to stay where they are, describing this as the safest option for now.