British Family Trapped in Dubai Amid Missile Strikes, Flights Cancelled
A British mother holidaying in Dubai with her two children, fiancé and best friend has described the terrifying ordeal of being caught in the crossfire of Iran's missile strikes, feeling like 'sitting ducks' as explosions rock the city and flights are indefinitely suspended.
Holiday Turned Nightmare
Salli Oliver, a Grimsby local known as Salli J on social media, had anticipated a tranquil getaway to the United Arab Emirates. Instead, her family's vacation has transformed into a living nightmare. On Saturday, the luxurious Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai was targeted as Iran retaliated with strikes following ongoing attacks by the US and Israel, according to BBC reports.
All flights to and from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) have been put on hold until further notice, leaving tourists stranded with no clear means of escape.
Sheltering in Basements Amid Explosions
Sharing harrowing updates on her TikTok account @sallijofficial, Salli has posted numerous videos detailing the pandemonium, often punctuated by deafening blasts in the background. The group is currently holed up at a five-star hotel in the Al Jaddaf area.
'Within 24 hours of us getting here, there were explosions,' Salli revealed. 'When we got the siren alarms on our phones, the lifts didn't work so we had to leg it down flights of stairs to the basement.'
Salli recounted how children and infants were among those seeking refuge in the basement during the detonations, creating a palpable tension. She witnessed many individuals 'in shock' and admitted it has 'not been a good time at all', as reported by Grimsby Live.
Uncertain Future and Financial Strain
In a video uploaded yesterday, she described sitting outside the hotel when a 'massive bang' that was 'really close' erupted. She recalled: 'The whole ground shook. Everybody just jumped up and ran back inside.'
Salli has her two children with her and revealed they have been 'up and down with emotions'. They are uncertain about their next steps, with flights grounded and potentially no means of returning home on their planned departure date of Thursday, 5 March.
Compounding the crisis, Salli explained that their travel insurance will not cover anything related to terrorism or war. Whilst everyone remains 'frightened', she noted some hotel guests have adopted the attitude of 'we might as well go out and enjoy the rest of our holiday' and have begun venturing out once more.
It costs £2,000 weekly for five people to remain at Salli's current hotel. With swimming pools shut, Salli said they spent an entire day 'sat in limbo in the lobby' wondering what would unfold next.
Foreign Office Guidance and Ongoing Risks
In her most recent update filmed outside the hotel, Salli said roads had reopened and she was contemplating going for a stroll on a beach. Salli said they were 'damned if they do, damned if they don't' because missiles could strike anywhere, so she reckoned they weren't necessarily any safer inside the hotel.
The Foreign Office has urged British Nationals in the UAE to register their presence with the UK Government to receive updates on the situation. Its current guidance for anyone in the UAE is to 'shelter in place'.
It stated: 'Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in UAE should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.'
