Alfie Hughes and Callum Brody were flying home from Manila when their brief Dubai stopover became an indefinite stay amid Middle East tensions – and they’ve noticed the city is strangely quiet
Two British tourists who expected to spend just three hours in Dubai say they are now trapped in the Gulf city indefinitely – and have been caught off guard by one unexpected element.
Alfie Hughes and Callum Brody were travelling back from Manila when their brief layover in Dubai turned into an extended stay after flights were grounded due to escalating tensions throughout the Middle East.
Alfie described the moment they realised their plans were about to unravel. Speaking to Sky News, he said: “It was on Saturday, the 28th. We were flying home from Manila. There were news channels on the flight, so we knew what was going on probably about four hours out from Dubai. About four hours out, we realised what was happening, so we had an idea that we probably weren’t going to be getting out of there. But yeah, it’s been a bit of a nightmare.”
When their plane touched down, the situation had worsened. “We landed at the airport and all of the flights to London that were due to leave a couple of hours before ours were already delayed by a couple of hours. So we knew the likelihood was fairly slim that we were going to get out of there and that we were going to be stuck for a few days.
“I’d say it was probably around five o’clock local time that they finally cancelled all the flights. There was pandemonium – everybody trying to find their bags and get airport vouchers,” he added, speaking to the Mirror. The disruption forced the couple to make rapid decisions, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Callum explained: “The first night in the airport was chaos, so we paid for a hotel out of pocket. Fortunately, since then Emirates have covered the hotel and food costs that we’ve incurred. We’ve never been to Dubai before, but it definitely seems quieter than it otherwise would be. Any other day-to-day expenses outside of the meals we’ve been covering ourselves.”
That unusual silence has been particularly striking to them. Despite Dubai’s fame for bustling shopping malls, jam-packed highways and vibrant tourist hotspots, they describe the city as feeling subdued – a stark contrast to their expectations.
Their delay comes as Iran has launched attacks across the Middle East, targeting sites in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. There are fears Tehran could persist with retaliatory strikes for up to a week, escalating concerns for holidaymakers throughout the region.
The UK Government has revealed that roughly 300,000 British citizens are presently in Gulf nations impacted by the escalating conflict. Of those, 102,000 have registered their location with the Foreign Office as officials prepare backup plans, including the possibility of a major evacuation.
Sir Keir Starmer said the Government is “looking at all options to support our people,” whilst Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper suggested that comprehensive preparations are already in motion. British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE have been urged to register online and keep track of official travel advice, which could alter swiftly.
For Alfie and Callum, the uncertainty is becoming increasingly challenging. Whilst they acknowledge they find themselves in a relatively fortunate situation, the extended wait is beginning to wear them down.
“We’re definitely on edge. I think we’re probably a bit more relaxed about it than some people. We’re more frustrated that it’s taking so long to get home. We’re aware that we’re in quite a privileged position – we’ve been put up in a hotel and have food provided – whereas others in the region don’t have access to that, so it’s a lot tougher on them than it is on us. Frustration is probably the biggest feeling we have at the moment.
“For us, it’s frustrating because we’re not over here by choice and neither of us ever planned to end up here. We’re grateful for the accommodation and hospitality we’ve received, but we just want to get home now.”
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