Thousands of residents of the United Arab Emirates who were stranded abroad due to regional airspace closures are finally returning home, as airlines gradually resume services and adjust flight schedules.
The disruptions, triggered by escalating tensions across the region, left many travellers stuck for days in airports across Europe, India and other international hubs. However, with the reopening of UAE airports earlier this week, residents have begun finding ways back — often through complicated travel routes and last-minute bookings.
For many, the journey home was anything but straightforward.
A Three-Day Journey Across Multiple Countries
For Paul and Natalie Hunter, returning from Rome turned into a three-day journey involving stops in Istanbul and Muscat before they finally reached Abu Dhabi, where their six children had been waiting.
“We spent the entire weekend booking every possible route home,” Natalie said shortly after arriving in the UAE.
“It’s a strange feeling to be in one country while your children are in another with no way of getting to them. You feel stranded and helpless.”
Her husband Paul, who works at First Abu Dhabi Bank, said they booked multiple flights simultaneously in the hope that at least one would operate.
“We had flights booked through Riyadh, Doha, Muscat and Istanbul,” he said. “Every time one flight was cancelled, we immediately tried another option.”
After spending a night at the airport in Istanbul, the couple eventually flew to Muscat and crossed the Hatta Border Crossing by road into the UAE.
“The border was busy but manageable,” Natalie said. “After three days of uncertainty, I just wanted to get home.”
Residents Scramble for Earlier Flights
Many residents began looking for alternative travel options as soon as the regional situation worsened.
Rebekah Bennett, a marketing and communications director, had initially planned to return to Dubai from Milan on Monday. But she began searching for earlier flights as tensions escalated.
“My two-year-old son was in Dubai, so my priority was getting back to him as quickly as possible,” she said.
Bennett eventually managed to return without major complications, although she had to present her Emirates ID before boarding to confirm her residency.
“The UAE is my adopted home,” she said. “I trust the way the country is managing this difficult situation.”
Visa Deadlines Add Pressure
For Sharjah resident Tabinda Usmani and her husband Sumit Sharma, the situation was made more stressful by expiring Schengen Visa permits.
The couple had planned to leave Paris on February 28 on a flight with Kuwait Airways, but the service was cancelled. A replacement flight with Emirates scheduled for March 1 was also cancelled.
“We called everyone — the French embassy, the UAE embassy and the airline — but nobody had clear answers,” Usmani said.
Eventually, they were able to travel on March 3 when flights resumed.
“When we landed in Dubai, the airport was extremely quiet,” she said. “Ground staff told us our flight was among the first to arrive after the reopening.”
Nearly Empty Flights Into Dubai
Several passengers described unusually quiet flights due to the disruptions.
Hannah Castleton, a Dubai-based PR director, managed to return from London on a Virgin Atlantic flight after her original March 1 booking was cancelled.
“There were only about 15 passengers on the plane,” she said. “The cabin crew told us that thousands of people were still trying to get back.”
Arriving at Dubai International Airport also felt unusual.
“It reminded me of the Covid-19 period — the airport was extremely quiet — but the welcome was just as warm as always.”
A Flight That Turned Back Mid-Air
For some travellers, the journey home involved even more unexpected setbacks.
Zinita Satija had attempted to return from Gondia in India to Abu Dhabi via Hyderabad on February 28 after spending six weeks away.
Following cancellations, she eventually boarded an Emirates flight from Delhi on March 3 — but the aircraft turned back shortly after take-off.
“About an hour into the flight, we were told the plane had to return to Delhi,” she said. “Everyone was confused and shocked.”
Later that evening, passengers received a new departure time and the flight finally took off again.
“I was unsure whether to try again,” she said. “But I decided I would try every possible flight to get back.”
The aircraft eventually landed in Dubai with fewer than 30 passengers onboard.
“After such a long and uncertain journey, arriving felt like a huge relief.”
Relief as Residents Reunite With Families
As flights gradually return to normal, more residents are making their way back to the UAE and reuniting with families after days of uncertainty.
For many travellers, the experience highlighted the strong sense of security and stability they associate with life in the UAE.
After days of cancellations, airport waits and last-minute bookings, one sentiment echoed among returning passengers:
There was no place they wanted to be more than home in the UAE.
