The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) has successfully repatriated 218 Singaporeans from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The evacuation flight, which departed Riyadh at about 22:30 local time on March 10, 2026, arrived at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) at 06:02 local time on March 11, 2026.
This mission was the first of two planned military flights from Saudi Arabia to evacuate Singaporeans in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The second flight is scheduled for March 12, 2026, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
The deployment of the RSAF A330 MRTT comes in response to the lack of feasible commercial flight options for Singaporeans seeking to leave the region. Prior to this mission, two repatriation flights from Oman were carried out over the weekend. As of March 2026, there are an estimated 25,000 Singaporeans living in the UAE.
In a Facebook post, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong thanked Saudi Arabia and Singapore’s partners in the region for their support in facilitating and ensuring the safe passage of the evacuation flights. He also urged Singaporeans who remain in the region to stay vigilant, look out for one another, and ensure they are e-registered with MFA for quick communication if needed.
Family members were present at the airport to welcome their loved ones upon their arrival in Singapore. The successful mission will bring relief to the evacuees and their families, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to pose challenges for those seeking to return home.
