The first Hong Kong-bound flight departing from Dubai since the Middle East conflict broke out landed in the SAR on Wednesday evening.

Emirates flight EK380 touched down at Hong Kong International Airport at 9.50pm after flying for nearly seven hours.

Among those on board was jockey Karis Teetan, along with his wife and daughter.

Teetan said the past few days had been stressful, adding that he was just grateful to be home.

“I've never felt so good to be home in my whole life,” he said.

“It was a bit hectic. Even buying tickets was not easy. We had the Hong Kong Jockey Club team trying to buy us tickets every day because we had to always keep [track of] the schedule of the flights.

“And also I had my family with me so it was difficult to actually get three tickets at once.”

Teetan recalled that on Saturday night, when the conflict first broke out, was a hectic and terrifying moment.

"It was very scary, especially like the first night... We could see the missiles high in the sky, especially on Saturday night we could see a few going through," he said.

A woman surnamed Kwok, who had travelled to Dubai with five others, is also grateful to be back.

“I’m very happy. It turns out Hong Kong is the safest place in the world. Coming back to Hong Kong without living in constant fear is just relieving and something I’m deeply grateful for,” she said.

A man surnamed Leung, who owns a restaurant in Dubai, said he was thrilled to be back in Hong Kong after waiting several days for a flight.

He said this experience would not change his future work plans, and added that he intends to return to the Middle East once the situation de-escalates.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Hong Kong, China said the SAR women's football team had safely landed in Bangkok and would depart for Hong Kong on Saturday.

The squad had been in Dubai for the Pink Ladies Cup 2026 but withdrew from the tournament earlier this week due to safety concerns.

The Immigration Department said that as of 5pm, it received inquiries from about 680 Hong Kong residents in the Middle East over flight and travel arrangements.

The department said about 100 of them had safely left the region, while others reported that they were in safe locations.


Edited by Aaron Tam