Iran-US tensions spark surge in overflights; Riyadh becomes safe evacuation hub  

Flight radar data shows that multiple flight routes now cross through Pakistan and Afghanistan, becoming essential pathways due to volatile situation in region

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 2^nd, 2026) The escalating conflict in the middle East has caused a significant surge in overflights through the airspaces of Pakistan and Afghanistan, turning these regions into some of the busiest flight corridors globally.

The flight radar data showed that the multiple flight routes now cross through Pakistan and Afghanistan, becoming essential pathways due to the volatile situation in the region.

Sources within Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority have revealed that the increase in air traffic is expected to generate millions of Dollars in profit for the country's aviation industry.

The images from flight radar platforms show a clear rise in congestion in both Pakistan and Afghanistan’s airspace, which has been crucial in providing alternative routes amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

As tensions rise across the Middle East, Riyadh has become a new key transit hub for evacuations from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with many wealthy families and global executives relocating to Saudi Arabia's capital.

According to reports from a US newspaper, those seeking safety are willing to pay thousands of dollars to travel from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Riyadh. Private jet fares from Riyadh to Europe have skyrocketed, reaching up to $350,000.

Following the closure of Oman’s airspace, Riyadh is being considered the only safe exit point for those trying to flee the region’s instability.