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

[tiantian1005]

Not sure when we can go home..anyone has managed to for example drive to nearby countries and fly from there?

Schools have been closed in the UAE

There are places which will be safer (ie RAK) if it’s safe to reach there. The UAE is made up of seven emirates and not all are like DXB or AD, some are significantly less touristy and with less infrastructure that may be targeted.

Hoping and praying your family are safe.

You know plenty of expats are people like teachers who drive themselves, do their own shopping etc? In fact are just living their lives, but in a different country?

🙄 My son lives there and said most delivery services are not happening.

This! My son lives in Dubai - shock horror both him and his girlfriend work long hours and do their own shopping and cleaning!

If you haven’t already, if you are British register with the foreign office, it means they know you exist. If they need to evacuate British citizens they need contact details. Currently riyhad is open for flights (ba has just landed) so they may need to look for options is UAE airspace can’t reopen promptly

The Caribbean has horrendous pockets of deep poverty on every island, great inequality, the divide between luxe tourism and local standards of living, and a huge drugs problem. Switzerland has a very dodgy recent history re. the war and hiding Nazi money and treasures. I think it still has some, in fact. Most of South America has massive issues with drug cartels and drug fields. If one is going to pick destinations based on what's right and what isn't, why make a moral stand on one issue, like the type of government, but not on other serious moral issues?

AFAIK Riyadh and also Dammam never closed or only closed briefly, so yes, maybe an overland evacuation to one of those might be a (lengthy) option.

Trump has come out said to expect this to go on for the next 4 weeks so I don't think it's going away any time soon.

Sounds like that's when Iran's weaponry runs out.

I'm not saying that Dubai is all fine and dandy, I'm saying that it's a bit rich of pp to pick out Dubai when Brits are voracious travellers who go to places that could be considered problematic all the time. I am sure that the halo-polishing pp are likely to have travelled to destinations with a lot of issues.

I also think that travel broadens the mind, and if you don't visit because of a moral stance, you miss out on a type of education, imo.

Dubai isn't on my destination list on the near future (I went for a few days in 2004) but I wouldn't let these issues keep me from experiencing it more, if I wanted to. Even if you don't go to museums etc., I think coming home with a renewed appreciation of what we have in the West is a great gift.

P.S. Thank you for the link about the princess. I actually didn't know about that, since Dubai hasn't been on my radar for a long time. How dreadful.

My relatives school was closed today because staffing is an issue. Staff cannot get back to the Middle East from their February break (half term was last week for them)

KHDA has issued school closures and a directive to move to online learning

If one is going to pick destinations based on what's right and what isn't, why make a moral stand on one issue, like the type of government, but not on other serious moral issues?

@FloofBunny On mn poor human rights is less important than the type of government. Far right or absolute monarchies such as Saudi or Dubai are unacceptable as holiday destinations but socialist or nominally left wing countries with poor human rights such Cuba, China or South Africa are fine.

Does anyone know what happens to tourists who don't have accommodation anymore as they haven't booked anywhere and don't have funds available to book new places? What if their insurance doesn't cover it? Or if their insurance operates on reimbursement?

I think they might get help from the British embassy in Dubai. You should contact them.

I'd argue that human rights in Cuba are a lot better than human rights in Saudi, and on a par or better than those in Dubai, with South Africa the best of the list, unless you believe Trump's nonsense.

Also, the hotels will surely have a lot of rooms free that would have been booked by people no longer coming, so could be filled by those who can't leave?

Posted previously:

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-airports-operational-plans-support-passengers-iran-attack-flight-suspensionz

You really know nothing. You do realise that most people in Dubai live perfectly normal lives. I lived there with no nanny or driver as did all the expats I knew.

The FCO and Embassies are trained in how to manage large numbers of people that need to get back to the UK.

The best thing people can do is stay in place - as instructed - contact them as instructed and then wait for further information, not go off cross country, potentially getting themselves into greater trouble and panicking.

My friend is trapped there but fortunately has been able to book a couple of extra nights at the same hotel she is already in. I guess with no incoming holidaymakers this will be possible. I guess most people would have a credit card or some plans for emergencies?

Iran is probably waiting for planes to start flying again and hoping to hit one of those. That would be the ultimate terrorist act with greatest impact. They have nothing to lose at this point. Terrorism is not just about the immediate casualties but causing a ripple effect with as much chaos and fear amongst as many people as possible. They've already achieved this by targeting hotels and airports, which were clearly chosen to put western tourists at risk.

Another link re the hotel situation..

gulfnews.com/business/tourism/dubai-abu-dhabi-tell-hotels-to-extend-stays-for-stranded-guests-1.500459842

Surely the hotels won’t be filling up with new guests as no one can travel there?