Tourists stranded in the Gulf following airspace closures amid the ongoing Iran–US–Israel conflict have praised UAE authorities for their swift assistance. Among them, an Indian influencer shared his personal experience after being stuck at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.Speaking to Khaleej Times, the content creator, who blogs under the pseudonym The iPad Info, said he and his family were stranded on Saturday after their flight was cancelled.“We came to UAE last week and were supposed to travel back to Bangalore on Saturday,” he said. “At the airport, we came to know that all flights were cancelled. There were sirens and we received an alert on our phones to find shelter. A few hours later, they gave us free food and hotel vouchers.”He commended that his family was taken to the hotel in a school bus and everyone he came across was helpful, citing the staff as “very supportive.” “As airspace has not opened, our flight voucher was extended for a day for free. I loved how the UAE authorities were so considerate towards travellers. It is the most supportive country I have been in.”
Full faith in the UAE
Another tourist, Suzna, arrived in Dubai on February 15 with her family for her niece’s birthday and was supposed to return home on Sunday. However, she now remains uncertain about when she will be able to travel back.“My younger brother left on Friday, and my uncle and aunt were supposed to leave on Saturday. My mother and I had some last-minute shopping, so we decided to stay on until Sunday. We were out shopping when my brother called me and informed me of the flight cancellation. At the time I didn’t understand the magnitude of impact.”She shared that all their flights were cancelled and refunds had been issued. Describing what was happening as a “scary experience” she added that she had been sheltering at a serviced apartment, which was booked till Monday noon and was hoping that they would be able to extend the booking. “Despite the fear, I have full faith in the UAE government. I know that they will make sure we are safe. We have been travelling in and out of Dubai for several years now and we know how safe a place it is,” she added.
All expenses paid
The UAE has stepped in to help thousands of travellers stranded by the flight cancellations. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that it has activated emergency aviation support plans that cover all accommodation, meal and rebooking costs for passengers stuck in the country due to regional airspace closures. The authority estimates that about 20,200 passengers have been affected by the rescheduling of flights so far. Therefore, temporary accommodation near airport hubs has been organised for travellers along with access to meals, beverages and refreshment services as they wait for further updates.
