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?

A lot of people go there as a stop over on the way elsewhere though.

i have just been speaking to a friend who has
a job which means she has to go there regularly. She was due to fly out this morning but her flight was cancelled.
most of the people on that flight she spoke to it was a stop over on the way to other places.

but either way at the moment people there and other local countries are scared. This isn’t the time for ‘I told you so’s’

Muscat is operating on a very limited schedule with a lot of cancellations.

There is a shelter in place. Use your time to start researching your options. Place to stay for an extended time, access to cash, charged phones, spare phone chargers.

There may be a need for evacuation flights, but if not, look at all your options - alternative airports (download Flightradar for an idea of what is flying), and also ferry ports and schedules (work out options to go the wrong direction to go the right way - eg ferry Oman to Mumbai).

You probably won’t need any of this but it might help you feel more in control x

Lots of luck

Maybe pp wasn't dismissing the culture, so much as arguing that the security risks dating back decades outweigh the benefits of a trip? It's unfair to bring that up on this kind of thread though.

Luxury hotel hit now

Is this not the same one reported earlier? Fairmont The Palm?

Ok fair enough - sorry!

Good point. Many people from poor countries like Uganda also go to make money as migrant workers and may have issues leaving.

Whoever is trapped, it's completely wrong to derail to criticise on this kind of thread.

Imo the Dubai government have been very cunning at marketing themselves as safe, modern and Westernised, often in ways which are not entirely honest. This proves that however they try to tempt people to Dubai, they cannot guarantee stating peaceful and out of the volatile politics of the ME.

How is that of any relevance??!

Not really the time or place to pontificate and in any case Dubai is a connecting destination for many far East and Australasian destinations for European flights.

Foreign office advice, as previously quoted, and prepare everyone's "grab bag" with all passports, tickets, money as well as a few toiletry basics and change of undies etc. You may get a flight at very short notice and only be able to take carry-on luggage. Stay safe.

This was 30 mins ago, was that it?

I think Emirates has cancelled all DXB routes until Weds but time will tell.

Grab bags? 🙈

please calm down.

Likely yes, it’s not been reported much on the news. I’m shocked at how little is being shared on the bbc. I appreciate Iran is the main news story but as this thread shows, the situation in Dubai is impacting on a large number of British nationals.

Best of luck OP.

No relevance or help to OP’s question at all!

Odd that they still held the horse racing at Meydan Dubai today. FO advice is clear though.

‘Grab bags’ - yes - that is the terminology and advice issued by the government.
That is exactly the advice from the government.

How to prepare for a potential crisis
Some steps that you could take to help you prepare are:

• if you are working abroad, familiarise yourself with your employer’s evacuation and contingency plans, particularly in high-risk locations. Make sure your employer has your next of kin’s details in case of an emergency
• keep your passport, visas, and those who may travel with you and your immediate family members, up-to-date and safe. During a crisis, local UK passport or visa services may be limited or closed, which could make travelling more complicated. You should consider having appropriate entry clearance for any possible transit countries, as well as for the United Kingdom
• make sure your vehicle (if you have one) has fuel
• make sure any domestic generator fuel supplies are as full as possible
• consider preparing supplies of useful items, or items more difficult to secure in an emergency, for example sufficient medical supplies (first aid kit, specific prescription medication that you or family members require), a torch, batteries, and access to several days’ supply of food and water
• have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government. You should note that in a crisis situation the UK government will not be able to provide you with advice specific to your situation and you will need to make your own decisions, for example to judge the risks on whether or not to leave where you are staying. Decisions on travel within or out of a country in crisis will be at your own risk
• be prepared in case you need to leave quickly, including a grab bag

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-deal-with-a-crisis-overseas

I have friends who have had to get out of nasty situations in the ME before. They literally arrived back in the UK with their passports and the clothes they were wearing when told to leave by the local British embassy. A grab bag is a simple precaution, as confirmed in government guidance quoted elsewhere.

Cremola, do you realise how serious the situation is ? This isn't a local skirmish.

Not sure I’d be calm if I was in Dubai and I most definitely would be packing a grab bag.

Is it necessary to be so condescending and mean?

I would say, I'm this situation a gran bag is a good idea.
And I hate the prepper threads on Mumsnet but this is a serious situation.

DD is in Dubai for work. She messaged us,pretty scared but staying calm. She is staying indoors and waiting it out. I'm trying not to worry too much but....

Why are you mocking the advice of the Foreign Office? I suspect they have more training and expertise in this area than you do.