Super-rich flee Middle East

Wealthy elites are paying up to £260,000 to escape the escalating conflict in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a key evacuation route.

The exodus comes after Iranian missiles and drones struck Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, and Bahrain last weekend—regions previously considered safe for high-net-worth individuals. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has become one of the few operational hubs in the region, offering a route out for those seeking safety.

Private security firms are reportedly coordinating fleets of SUVs to transport individuals on the ten-hour drive from Dubai to Riyadh, after which private jets are chartered to fly evacuees to Europe and beyond. Among those leaving are senior executives from global finance firms and other wealthy individuals holidaying or on business in the Gulf.

The surge in demand has driven prices for private transport through the kingdom to unprecedented levels, with jet fares from Riyadh to Europe reportedly reaching $350,000 (£260,000).

Saudi Arabia's appeal as an evacuation point has been further boosted by its relaxed visa rules, allowing many nationalities to obtain visas upon arrival rather than in advance. However, the kingdom is not entirely insulated from the conflict. Earlier this morning, its Ras Tanura oil refinery—the world's largest - was hit by an Iranian drone, forcing its temporary closure.

Torbjorn Soltvedt, Middle East analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft, warned that Gulf energy infrastructure is now "squarely in Iran's sights," and predicted the attacks may push Saudi Arabia and neighboring states closer to joining U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.

The Saudi defence ministry confirmed two drones were intercepted and destroyed earlier today, though it did not attribute the weapons to Iran. The kingdom's energy facilities have previously been targeted, including drone and missile strikes in 2019 on Abqaiq and Khurais plants and Houthi attacks on Ras Tanura in 2021.

As the crisis unfolds, the wealthy continue to leverage Saudi Arabia as a corridor for rapid, high-cost evacuation, underscoring the widening regional instability and the premium placed on security and mobility for the elite.