British tourists stranded in Dubai have described sleeping in underground car parks, hotel basements, and even nightclubs as missile interceptions and regional strikes continue to disrupt parts of the Middle East.
Shortly after theUS-Israel declared war on Iran, Iranian missile activity and related military interceptions triggered safety alerts, flight cancellations, and emergency shelter arrangements across the United Arab Emirates.
For years, Dubai has been seen as one of the safest and most stable travel hubs in the region, built around tourism, luxury hotels, and its role as a global aviation gateway. That sense of security has been shaken in recent months as regional tensions escalated and airspace disruptions rippled through majorairline routes.
For many holidaymakers, what began as a routine trip or stopover has turned into an unplanned stay in improvised shelters beneath five-star hotels.
Among those caught up in the disruption were Stacey Gibson and her partner, Charles Wright, from Surrey. They had been visiting Dubai to celebrate Wright's birthday when the situation changed abruptly. Speaking from inside a hotel complex, Gibson described waking to loud explosions and confusion as the scale of the situation became clearer.
'We're in fight or flight mode,' she said. 'Every noise that you hear, every little thing, we're jumping, and asking, what's that? Do we need to move?'
According to theDaily Mail, the couple has reportedly been sleeping in a basement car park at the Mileo Hotel after being moved away from the upper floors, which are considered too exposed. Their holiday plans unravelled within hours of arriving at the airport, where they recall hearing a heavy blast that shook their taxi and caused massive disruption at departures.
'We heard this almighty bang, it shivered through our feet,' Gibson said. 'We looked at the cab driver, and he didn't know what it was.'
Since then, she said, uncertainty has defined each day. Flights have been cancelled or delayed, securing airline contact has been difficult, and hotel staff have been forced to improvise shelter arrangements as guests increasingly refuse to remain in high-rise rooms.
In one case, guests were moved into underground car parks and service areas. Videos circulating on social media show people lying on mattresses or blankets spread across concrete floors, a striking contrast to the luxury surroundings above them.
Source: International Business Times UK
