The ferry service from Khasab in Oman to Bandar Abbas, for which tickets had been sold for Saturday, October 3, was cancelled on Friday, October 2, before departure. The route had been promoted by several Instagram accounts following the suspension of Iranian flights to the UAE, with some tickets selling for up to 40 million tomans. The service was also reportedly fully booked.

In a message to passengers, the operator said: “Given the situation in the region and warnings received about potential risks along this route, and because passenger safety is our top priority, Saturday’s journey has been cancelled until further notice due to circumstances beyond our control.”

The launch of the ferry route amid conflict in the region had raised serious concerns from the outset. Under the current circumstances, travelling overland through Iraq or using air and land routes via Turkey are considered the safest options for Iranians travelling from the UAE to Iran.