Hundreds of tourists were flown home to the UK from the UAE on Sunday on a flight organised by the British Embassy.
A total of 345 passengers boarded the 9.40am Emirates EK2545 flight from Dubai International Airport.
The "self-standing flight" was organised with the help of the UAE government and Dubai Airports to get stranded Brits home as quickly as possible."
In turn, two planes chartered by UAE authorities will bring 80 Emirati nationals home from the UK on April 5 and 7.
British Ambassador to the UAE Patrick Moody met the British group at Terminal 2 hours before their departure.
“This morning 345 British travellers left on an evacuation flight to the UK. Great work by everyone involved,” he tweeted on Sunday.
"I am really pleased we have been able to do that and help people get home.
"I also wanted to give a huge thank you to Emirates, to the Emirati authorities who have helped make this happen and most of all to my staff who have worked tirelessly to identify those who needed to get home.
"For the rest of us that are staying here, we'll still be looking after you. Please watch our travel advice and follow the government advice to stay home and stay safe."
The flight, which was publicly announced on the embassy’s Twitter page on Thursday, was scheduled to carry “vulnerable tourists” back home to friends and loved ones.
All passengers identified as high priority, including those with high-risk medical conditions or financial difficulties, were contacted by the embassy and booked for travel. Tickets were priced at Dh2,500.
For weeks, tourists have been stranded in the UAE after global travel restrictions were imposed in March to slow the spread of Covid-19.
On Thursday, many received good news as Emirates announced it was given permission to operate limited commercial passenger flights out of the country from Monday.
Passengers wanting to travel from Dubai were advised to book tickets online via Emirates to select destinations including London, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels and Zurich. All one-way tickets to each destination were priced at Dh2,500.
The first commercial flight from the city will depart to London on Monday morning.
The Emiratis due to fly in from the UK were either studying or receiving medical treatment in Britain and were unable to return following the closure of UAE airports on March 24.
Ambassador Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE ambassador to the UK, said: “The welfare of our citizens is our highest priority. That is why our government took strict measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus within the UAE. Such a firm obligation also means getting our citizens home safe and sound at this difficult time.”
