What should I do if stuck in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

Immediate priorities for people on the ground

Find safe shelter, confirm your status with your airline, and register with your home country’s embassy or consulate. When airports and flights are disrupted by regional strikes and resulting airspace closures, official channels become the fastest route to practical help — and embassies are coordinating repatriation efforts and sharing emergency updates.

Practical next steps - Contact your airline to learn about rebooking, refunds, or repatriation flights they may be operating.
- Register with your embassy or consulate so officials know where you are and can include you in evacuation or repatriation planning.
- Keep receipts for all unexpected expenses (accommodation, meals, transport) in case you can claim them from your insurer or airline.
- Avoid canceling your ticket without consulting the carrier; airlines advising against cancelations because refunds or rebooking options may be available later.
- Beware of scams: use official airline and government websites and watch for impersonator messages promising special flights or expedited services.

Short-term logistics and wellbeing If hotels or tour operators extend stays, confirm payment terms and document agreements. Expect crowded information lines and delays with customer service; persistence and patience help. If you need money, use bank apps or embassy channels to access funds rather than relying on informal offers.

Longer-term planning Governments and carriers are arranging targeted repatriation flights; some Gulf airports have announced limited resumptions aimed at getting people home. Monitor official airline emails, government travel advisories, and embassy alerts. If your plans are flexible, consider postponing onward travel until airlines stabilize schedules. It’s still unclear how long full operations will take to return to normal, so plan for continued changes and keep important documents accessible.