First UK charter evacuation flight to leave Middle East in just hours after 130,000 Britons sign up

Priority for the evacuation flight will be given to the most vulnerable, it added.

It will be made available for British nationals, their partners and children under 18 with a valid travel document in Oman.

Anyone who registered their presence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and are now in Oman has been asked to sign up for a flight home.

Some 130,000 Britons have already registered their presence in the Middle East more broadly, with tourist hotspot the UAE likely accounting for much of that figure.

The Foreign Office has now said it is working with airlines on more routes in the days and weeks ahead.

But the department has pleaded with Britons not to travel to Muscat International Airport in Oman unless they are contacted by officials.

It also warned any non-British dependents will require a valid visa or permission to enter or remain granted for more than three months.

The Foreign Office also updated its travel advice for Thailand, another tourist hotspot for Britons, early on Wednesday "due to the escalation in the Middle East”".

"Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights," it said.

"Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East."

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The Government has been accused of "ignoring" Britons trapped in the Middle East.

Jo Hummel, 43, who is currently stuck with her family in Qatar, told The Telegraph her family had not received any information about an evacuation back to Britain.

She said: "It’s not great. We’re only as safe as Qatar’s missile defence system can keep us.

"The window of opportunity to get us out is getting smaller and smaller.

“Is the British Government waiting for a hotel full of tourists to be bombed before it tries to get people out?”

Elsewhere, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said a vessel had been struck by a projectile off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE.

It said in a mystery "projectile" had damaged the vessel's steel plating, but there had been no fire or water intake, while all its crew were reported safe.

It followed an earlier incident 137 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat, Oman.

According to the UKMTO, a vessel reported a loud explosion near the ship before spotting plumes of smoke in the water.

The maritime security authority confirmed that both the vessel and its crew were safe after the incident.