Anyone else in Dubai on holiday? AIBU to be panicking with all the flights cancelled?

As an aside, what is the definition of an expat, why different to an immigrant, and would you still be an expat if you have lived there for many years? I always assumed expats were temporary, only staying for a few years and then coming home or moving on

The large expat community seem happy to stay put, the ones anxious to leave are the tourists and second homers.

The batshit conspiracy theories are in full swing this morning

i think if you want you’re replies to be taken seriously you need to work on your posting style.

So let's get this right the message to thousands and thousands of Americans to leave the Middle East was not out of concern for their safety but simply as a posturing plan devised by Trump.

Do you have any evidence or links to support this?

The batshit conspiracy theories are in full swing this morning.

But the American message for all citizens to return is ominous

I don’t think so. I think it’s all part of Trumps posturing.

No one with an ounce of sense would be visiting Dubai in these times

I hope so because it must be awful for so many people

But the American message for all citizens to return is ominous

Prices will have suddenly dropped for visiting Dubai now....

Hope you are now home safe and sound.

Maybe they’ll be told to piece together some kind of rocket from what’s lying around on the ground and fly home once they’ve stuck the rocket up their bum.

In theory yes but in practice that's not happening. Some people are having to pay their own costs and getting refunded at a later date

I personally don't think so. There are still over 100k people trying to get home to the UK and the region is still unstable

@Angelica - I didn’t say they had stopped issuing visas. Suffice to say that not everyone who heads to the border thinking they’ll get a visa because they qualified for one on arrival before will get one.

I really think it’s BAU from tomorrow in Dubai. I have family out there that own businesses and have jobs, families etc.

There are major roads. Dubai - Al Ain and then across the border. Dubai - Hatta. In the country there will be news of strike areas, safe routes and open border points.

I know people who've got visas at the border, yes it is a risk but one I'd be willing to take.

Oman started putting certain visa restrictions for non resident card holders in place on day 1 of the situation.

Don't think it's any more dystopian than to be under fire in a poor country

The reality is nobody knows where the situation is heading. If I was there I'd be looking to get out at the first opportunity via Oman due to the volatility. People can always go back when it's safe.

I believe i heard on the news that the Dubai Government have said they will cover the cost of hotel rooms for tourists.

Yes that is similar information to what we are hearing from family who are long term (30 years + ) expats. These are people who have invested, own property and run a business there while it has developed and feel valued and protected by the regime.

As a resident of the region for almost 50 years I agree with you.

It must be incredibly dystopian to be surrounded by so much wealth and luxury in the warm weather yet be surrounded by war with a neighbouring regime indiscriminately firing drones and missiles that need to be intercepted literally in the skies in view from your balcony.

My biggest concern though, if I was there now would be the risk of terrorism, because let’s not forget who they’re dealing with here. Western nationals in the lavish hotels and bars would be a prime target especially if a radical group decided to take action into their own hands. The missiles can be handled effectively enough that it gives the illusion of normality, dirty terrorism cannot.

I also wouldn’t want to risk boarding a commercial flight out of the area until there’s been a decent sustained ceasefire.

This.

Trump has left his citizens firmly in the shit and told them it's their problem to get back.

Don't forget if you are in Dubai and were on a flight from Europe you have considerably more rights too, so will be prioritised back to Europe too.

He's really shafted a lot of Americans here by the looks of it.

It's also closed it's Embassy in Kuwait until further notice. And the one in Saudi was hit last night.

If I was an American on holiday there I'd be particularly concerned.

Dubai was largely evacuated during the first Gulf War, the Dubai dream certainly didn’t stop then and I doubt, looking at all my friends instas, it’s going to stop now - most of them are carrying on as normal except schooling from home and some are working from home.

They all feel very safe and many of them have been there through the second Gulf War, some both Gulf Wars and now this. I really doubt most of the expats will not return even if they do leave.

Worst case is they will extend Easter holidays so people can chose to leave if they want. It’s very much life as normal and not what the media are portraying at all.

some are due to be coming back from Dohar