The United Kingdom is preparing to operate its first charter flight from Oman to evacuate British nationals stranded in the Middle East after escalating regional conflict disrupted commercial air travel across the Gulf.

Officials confirmed that the flight is scheduled to depart from Muscat, the capital of Oman, in the evening, offering seats to British nationals and their immediate family members holding valid travel documents.

Priority is expected to be given to vulnerable individuals as authorities manage limited capacity on the first evacuation service.

The move comes as the government responds to widespread disruption caused by the intensifying conflict involving Iran, which has triggered missile and drone attacks across the region and forced several countries to close or restrict their airspace.

The closures have halted or severely reduced normal airline operations through major aviation hubs linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Tens of thousands of British nationals are believed to be in the wider region, with many registering with the Foreign Office for updates and assistance as the situation deteriorated.

Large numbers are located in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states, where travel routes to Europe typically depend on transit through airports such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

The charter flight from Muscat forms part of a broader government effort to help citizens leave the region safely.

Officials have been coordinating with airlines and regional authorities to expand outbound capacity while continuing to encourage travellers to use commercial services where available.

Passengers seeking a seat on the government-arranged flight have been instructed to register through official channels and wait for confirmation before travelling to the airport.

Authorities warned that demand for evacuation flights is expected to be high and additional departures may be required depending on the evolving security situation.

The current disruption has been severe across global aviation networks, with thousands of flights cancelled and airlines forced to reroute aircraft away from closed airspace.

Major Middle Eastern hubs typically handle enormous volumes of international transit passengers each day, meaning interruptions in the region quickly ripple through worldwide travel schedules.

Other governments have also begun organizing evacuation operations for citizens stranded in the Gulf, using a combination of charter flights, commercial services and coordinated transit routes through neighbouring countries.

British officials say the evacuation effort will continue to adapt as conditions change, with further flights under consideration if the security environment and airport operations allow additional departures.