France Fights Over the Cost of Gulf War Rescues
The situation in the Middle East is changing by the hour. For the 400,000 French citizens living in the Gulf, the primary goal is simple: getting home. But as the conflict between regional powers and the US escalates, “getting home” has become a complicated and expensive puzzle.
The Struggle to Find a Seat
Right now, catching a flight out of Dubai feels like winning the lottery. Air France and other major carriers are dealing with a logistical nightmare. On 5 March 2026, a government-chartered flight had to turn back because of missile fire.
When planes do fly, the tickets are not cheap. Commercial fares have jumped to 3 or 4 times their usual price. This leaves many families stuck. If you can’t find a flight from Dubai, you might have to take a bus or a car to Abu Dhabi or Muscat. Even then, there is no guarantee a seat will be waiting for you.
How would you handle the stress of watching flight boards turn red with cancellations?
Who Gets a Seat First?
The French government is stepping in, but they aren’t sending a plane for everyone at once. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has been clear about the plan. The first flights are for “vulnerable” people.
This means the elderly, people with medical needs, and families with small children go to the front of the line. For everyone else, the advice is to stay put and stay safe. The state is also telling big companies to take care of their own workers. They don’t want the military to be the only way out.
The Big Question: Who Pays?
This is where things get heated back in France. Moving thousands of people using military planes and private charters costs a lot of money. Should people who pay no taxes in France get a free ride home on the taxpayer’s dime?
In the National Assembly, lawmakers like Eric Coquerel are asking this exact question. They have proposed a “targeted universal tax.” This plan would track wealthy French citizens who move to low-tax places like Dubai. Under this rule, they would have to pay French taxes for 10 years after they leave.
A Growing Debate on Fairness
Many people in France feel it is unfair to avoid the tax system while things are good, only to call for help when things get bad. They see the military evacuations as a service that should be funded by those who use it.
On the other side, French citizens in Dubai feel they are being treated like “tax exiles” rather than citizens. They argue that protection is a right of every person holding a French passport, regardless of where they live or how much they earn.
Where does the line between personal responsibility and state duty begins?
What Happens Next?
The government has warned that those who stay behind despite the warnings are taking a big risk. The “air bridge” won’t stay open forever. As the costs rise, the pressure on the government to bill the passengers for their seats is growing.
For now, the priority is safety. But once the dust settles, the fight over the bill will likely last much longer than the flights themselves. It is a 3.7 B€ conversation that France isn’t ready to stop having.