The MEA was very clear on Monday in a post on X (formerly Twitter): the story is completely without fact, there is no evacuation being organised, and people should be careful about these false and without basis claims.
No evacuation plan in place
Officials also confirmed no evacuation plan or agreement is even being considered. People should only get updates about safety, travel problems, or emergencies from official sources and verified advice.
For clarity, here is what the government’s stance means right now:
– No evacuation plan exists through Fujairah port
– Verify updates only from official MEA channels
– Ignore unverified viral posts and rumours
How the claim spread
Rumors online and in the media suggested India and the UAE were talking about a way to move Indian citizens through Fujairah if things became more dangerous in the area. Some even said this arrangement was connected to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UAE later this week.
One report went as far as to say there was a ‘completely new treaty’ to get Indians out of the UAE by ship if there were problems with air travel. The MEA said this is wrong, showed pictures of the story, and asked people to disregard it.
Why Fujairah entered the conversation
Fujairah is located outside the Strait of Hormuz and is a major area for shipping and oil, so it often comes up in discussions of emergency plans. This important location was the reason given in the untrue reports for using the port as a place to move through.
The increasing problems in the Middle East are making people who are travelling or living in the area worried. The wider conflict with Iran is at a very dangerous point: talks between Washington and Tehran have failed to reach an agreement, and the price of oil has jumped because people are expecting fighting to start again.
However, the official word remains that no evacuation is being planned. The government has said the Fujairah evacuation story is groundless and has told people to be careful about believing false stories.
Advice for Indian nationals
The MEA says the best way to deal with a situation that is changing rapidly is to follow official announcements. The fact-checking department of the MEA has been frequently issuing advice to stop false information from spreading relating to foreign policy, conflicts in the area, and evacuations.
What comes next
The government will give instructions through normal procedures if the situation changes and requires it. Right now, there’s no agreement with the UAE to evacuate people by sea, and no treaty to that effect is being created.
Indian people in the region, who are looking for any sign of disruption, have a lot to lose. The MEA has asked for everyone to remain calm, and has promised to communicate any changes in advice quickly and openly.
Bottom line
The claim that India and the UAE have a plan to evacuate people via Fujairah is false. The MEA has firmly denied it and cautioned against misinformation. People travelling or living in the area should only follow official advice and shouldn’t share information that hasn’t been checked, as that could cause panic.
