Stranded Across the Middle East Amid Iran Attacks
Thousands of individuals remain stranded throughout the Middle East following a series of attacks launched by Iran in retaliation to significant and ongoing assaults by the US and Israel.
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, two luxury hotels and the main airport—recognized as the world's busiest by passenger traffic—have sustained damage.
Eyewitness Accounts from Dubai
The BBC has interviewed residents and visitors in the Emirate to gather their experiences amid the unrest.
Dubai resident Becky Williams described witnessing approximately 15 missiles
"launched from behind my house yesterday", referring to missiles fired by UAE authorities to intercept incoming Iranian projectiles.
"You can hear the interceptions happening in the air."
Despite the events, Williams and her family remain calm and place their trust in the UAE military's ability to protect the airspace, expressing confidence that
"it would all blow over soon."
Iran's retaliatory attacks for the US-Israeli strikes persisted into Sunday.
Damage to Luxury Hotels and Infrastructure
On the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's renowned luxury man-made archipelago, the five-star Fairmont The Palm hotel was struck by a significant explosion.
Authorities reported that debris from an intercepted drone caused a
"minor fire"on the outer facade of the five-star Burj Al Arab hotel.
One resident reflected philosophically on the situation:
"What we've lived through over the past 24 hours is a fraction of what others have been living through in areas of conflict so it puts things in perspective."
Disrupted Plans and Shelter in Place
Meanwhile, Satya Jaganathan found her weekend plans disrupted by the unfolding events. Initially intending to go on a hike on Sunday morning, she stated,
"And here we are, sheltering in place."
The 35-year-old noted that her sister's family and pets had to seek refuge in their apartment due to their proximity to the Jebel Ali port, where
"a lot of debris [was] falling."
On Saturday, officials confirmed that debris from an
"aerial interception"caused a fire at a berth within the port, which ranks as the world's ninth busiest.
Jaganathan described the atmosphere:
"It's still relatively calm as there are only loud noises every few hours, but it is eerie because this is not the Dubai we are used to."
Impact on Dubai International Airport and Travel Disruptions
Dubai International Airport (DXB) also sustained damage in what authorities have termed an
"incident."
Thousands of flights to and from the Middle East have been grounded, marking one of the most significant disruptions to global travel since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Judy Trotter, who was scheduled to return to London from her holiday on Saturday, was informed of flight cancellations upon arrival at the airport.
She recounted,
"I've met people who were very upset about their travel plans, there were thousands of people in the airport, I met people who told me they were missing funerals."
Trotter added that many passengers
"were in transit, just passing through"and are now stranded.
She was among approximately 1,000 passengers accommodated at a hotel, where they were advised to avoid windows.
"There is a lot of glass in the hotel which is worrying,"she said, noting that they heard
"several missiles throughout the day."
Fear and Precaution Among British Holidaymakers
Another British tourist, Kate Fischer from Buckinghamshire, expressed fear for her family's safety.
On Saturday evening, she and her partner prepared
"a grab bag"while their children slept, and
"doused bathrobes and towels"with water in case they needed to
"escape during the night in fire conditions."
She described Sunday as a peculiar day:
"It's a very surreal experience being surrounded by everyone trying to enjoy their holiday and trying to entertain their children whilst we can see visible smoke from nearby areas that have been hit by drones or missiles."
