MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. Domestic and foreign air carriers canceled 216 flights between Russia and Middle East countries, the Russian Transport Ministry said.

"Domestic and foreign airlines canceled 216 flights over the past weekend, with the majority of them from Russia to the UAE and back; the return of over 10,000 tickets was formalized," the ministry informed.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the largest number of Russian organized tourists is now in the UAE, over 20,000 people.