Abu dhabi: A chartered plane to evacuate South Koreans from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take off this weekend amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Saturday. The ministry announced the arrangement of a 290-seat Etihad Airways chartered flight, scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi at noon on Sunday (local time).

According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Embassy in the UAE will begin receiving applications early Saturday from South Korean nationals wishing to board the plane. Priority will be given to critically ill patients, people with severe disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, and infants. The planned departure comes as Seoul seeks to repatriate approximately 3,000 nationals stranded in the UAE due to flight disruptions amid the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has vowed to make all-out efforts to ensure that every South Korean wishing to return home can do so safely. He held a joint meeting with overseas diplomatic missions based in the Middle East and instructed officials to "prepare thoroughly for any possible challenges and uncertainties" to safeguard the safety of South Korean nationals.

Meanwhile, Cho engaged in telephone discussions with his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, requesting Bahrain's cooperation in facilitating a swift and safe return of Korean nationals from there to South Korea. He also expressed sympathy to Bahrain, which has suffered significant infrastructure damage, including to refinery facilities, due to Iranian attacks.