• A woman leaves a military aircraft after being flown out of Kabul. Under Operation Apagan, people have been taken from Afghanistan to the French military airbase of Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi. AFP
    A woman leaves a military aircraft after being flown out of Kabul. Under Operation Apagan, people have been taken from Afghanistan to the French military airbase of Al Dhafra in Abu Dhabi. AFP
  • French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, left, and Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly talk to the press at Al Dhafra. AFP
    French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, left, and Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly talk to the press at Al Dhafra. AFP
  • French soldiers and civilians at the airbase in Al Dhafra. AFP
    French soldiers and civilians at the airbase in Al Dhafra. AFP
  • A French soldier gestures as people wait in a reunion and evacuation center at the French military air base 104 of Al Dhafra, near Abu Dhabi, on August 23, 2021, after being evacuated from Kabul as part of the operation "Apagan". (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY / AFP)
    A French soldier gestures as people wait in a reunion and evacuation center at the French military air base 104 of Al Dhafra, near Abu Dhabi, on August 23, 2021, after being evacuated from Kabul as part of the operation "Apagan". (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY / AFP)
  • People wait to be reunited with loved ones in Al Dhafra. AFP
    People wait to be reunited with loved ones in Al Dhafra. AFP
  • People have their luggage checked by soldiers. AFP
    People have their luggage checked by soldiers. AFP
  • A French soldier checks the temperature of a woman flown to the base from Afghanistan. AFP
    A French soldier checks the temperature of a woman flown to the base from Afghanistan. AFP
  • More people arrive at the base. AFP
    More people arrive at the base. AFP
  • France has flown about 2,000 French citizens and Afghans from Afghanistan to the base. AFP
    France has flown about 2,000 French citizens and Afghans from Afghanistan to the base. AFP
  • The UAE has helped more than 20,000 people who have fled Afghanistan. AFP
    The UAE has helped more than 20,000 people who have fled Afghanistan. AFP

UAE

French citizens arrive safely in UAE after fleeing Kabul - in pictures

Dozens of people disembark military plane at Al Dhafra airbase

The National

August 24, 2021

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Latest: Afghanistan live blog

French citizens and other nationalities who were flown out of Afghanistan have landed safely in the UAE.

At least several dozen were pictured disembarking an A400M Atlas military aircraft at Al Dhafra airbase in Abu Dhabi emirate on Monday night.

France's Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly greeted passengers.

Mr Le Drian met Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Mr Le Drian thanked Sheikh Mohamed for facilitating evacuation flights.

Almost 2,000 French citizens and Afghans have been flown to the base by France in recent days.

The Foreign Ministry has identified another 62 French citizens who remain in Afghanistan, while authorities are examining requests from many more Afghans to leave the country.

The UAE has helped more than 20,000 people who have fled Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control of the country.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: August 24, 2021, 11:09 AM