Hi Dubai friends,

Welcome to Week 10, Edition 123

This is a ‘Special Edition’, due to the current situation in Dubai.

I felt it would be more useful to try to collate a few thoughts and information that may help what is an awful situation, and save the tips, deals and other stuff for another time.

(Warning - This edition may be bit ‘rough and ready’ so please forgive me any clunky grammar or ramblings. I’ve tried to go more into detail rather than focus on lovely writing.

I will update this copy onto a post on Eat Drink Stay Dubai, and polish it up and update as time goes on.

I just wanted to get something out quickly to cover what I feel are the biggies, and hopefully things will settle down and normal service resumed ASAP).

Stay safe folks - keep calm and carry on, and all that.

Shaun

PS. I’m here to help you - any queries, big or small, even if it’s to explain anything in this edition - feel free to email me here .

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Before we go any further, I would urge you to follow objective, trusted and official sources for any information.

This article is not meant to be a shortcut to bypass your own responsibility to do your own ‘due diligence’ and research, especially as this is a ‘fast-moving and fluid situation’.

This is only meant to be a quick overview as an ‘appetiser’ to dig further and wider, with a narrow scope - e.g. Dubai-focussed, and from a British angle. As my audience covers a wide demographic, some of the aspects I cover may vary across different countries.

For the avoidance of doubt, trusted sources of information should be objective, accurate and approved.

This therefore excludes any influencers, personalities, bloggers or social media ‘citizen journalists’. The UAE media works differently from Western media.

What is not helpful these days is ‘content for clicks’ over facts. Many online sources will republish bits of information, often without context, fact-checking or analysis.

I would suggest a ‘hierarchy of sources’ to be :-

Be wary, especially on social media, of ‘copycat’ channels with similar-sounding names that may suggest authority- they’re the equivalent of ‘Facebook Groups’ and often repurpose content without context, which may not always be accurate.

In this day and age, there can be a tendency to want to be told stuff rather than finding out for yourself, and I would advise against this. The UAE has very strong laws involving reporting and misinformation, hence the tip to stick to official and objective sources.

🔗 Khaleej Times
🔗 Gulf News
🔗 The National

X is generally the better social media platform for the official local contacts, so these tags are for X.

@ARNNewsCentre - ARN News Centre
@wamnews - Emirates News Agency (WAM)

@dubaidet - Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
@dctabudhabi - Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi

@gcaauae - The General Civil Aviation Authority
@ncemauae -National Crisis and Disaster Management Authority
@moiuae - Ministry of Interior
@modgovuae - Ministry of Defence
@mofauae - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

@dubaiairports - Dubai Airports
@emirates - Emirates
@emiratessupport - Emirates Support
@etihad - Etihad Airways
@etihadhelp - Etihad Help

@ukinuae - British Embassy in the UAE
@usainuae - US Mission to UAE
@fcdotravelgovuk - FCDO Travel Advice

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) changed its advice at 2342 Saturday 28 February to “advises against all but essential travel”.

Whilst this is not the highest level - “do not travel” is the ‘worst’ - this still can impact travel insurance, as well as future travel bookings. For example, if you book travel to a destination with an FCDO warning in place, it is considered a “known event” and you accept that risk.

Many, if not most, travel insurance providers will consider matters such as what’s happening in Dubai an “act of war” or similar, and this means you won’t be covered as there are exceptions in the policy.

It’s important to understand the impact of FCDO advice, because there may be similar clauses or exceptions in travel insurance if you choose to travel, or even book, to somewhere they don’t recommend.

Travel agents and providers may also use FCDO advice to base decisions on, should there be disruptions.

Even though FCDO is aimed at British citizens, it’s an excellent information resource and it’s well worth signing up to email alerts for your countries of interest.

Note - if you need to check the historical status of FCDO advice, you can use the ‘Wayback Machine’ link below, which shows ‘snapshots’ at given points in time. The Email alerts are better because they will update you of any change, whereas Wayback Machine only will show the two different versions, not what was updated or when.

🔗 FCDO United Arab Emirates Travel Advice
🔗 Wayback Machine: FCDO UAE Travel Advice

The GCC countries have 3 major airlines - Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways - based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha respectively. Dubai International Airport (DXB) handles around 200,000 passengers daily with around 8,500 flights.

All three carriers are primarily ‘hub’ operations, that is, relying on ‘through traffic’ i.e., connecting passengers from one long-haul destination through a hub onto a third long-haul destination.

Given how popular all three airlines are, that means if they’re all disrupted at the same time, there’s a massive amount of disrupted passengers - including those ‘in the air’ or stuck in the hub.

For example, last weekend, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) estimated there were around 20,200 passengers affected by airport rescheduling. I’ll come back to the ‘hotel costs’ confusion later …

As airspace to the UAE and Qatar closed, Oman and Saudi Arabia remained open - which is why many in the UAE dashed to Oman, as MCT was still flying nearly full schedules.

The UK Government arranged repatriation flights, and at time of writing, two have left Oman. These need registering for via this form. These are not free (around £360 each), based on priority given to ‘vulnerable’ passengers and you will need to arrange your logistics to Oman.

Dubai Airport recently opened up in limited numbers, using ‘secure corridors’, which may mean fighter jets escorting a commercial airline. One of the main hurdles to airlines is crew and timings, in fact British Airways charted its own flight to take crew back to the United Kingdom. As such, some of the commercial flights are selected due to timings allowing for a quick ‘turnaround’, such as two recent return flights between Doha and Dubai in the evenings.

As each day goes by, more flights are confirmed to fly and the best way to keep advised of this are :-

Currently, Emirates are issuing a daily abstract of the flights they operating each day (in and out) here. As of Friday 06 March, Emirates and Etihad Airways have resumed some flights to Dubai.

🔗 FlightRadar24 (search by airport, route, flight number or airline) or Live Departures.
🔗 Flighty
🔗Emirates Travel Support
🔗 Emirates Flight Status
🔗 Dubai Airports

Given they are one of the busiest airlines operating in one of the busiest airports in the worlds, Emirates have a massive job on their hands - and likely will have for a good while yet.

Not only are they ramping up flights and all the logistics that comes with it, but the back office is working night and day trying to allocate passengers to flights, as well as opening up new bookings.

To this end, it’s vital not to pester them if at all possible - they’re doing all they can to (and much more besides).

Whilst not going on the record about how they’re allocating seats, they have to balance getting stranded transit passengers moving again - not just in Dubai - but also, trying to ramp up flights back home for holidaymakers and help governments pushing to repatriate their citizens.

That’s some task, and no easy day. So please be patient and considerate if you’re looking for information and updates, because if everyone wanted personal communication it could become a distraction from their main focus.

First and foremost - stay safe and pay attention to all official warnings (such as from government alert systems or embassies).

Register with your home country’s registration system, such as what UK tourists and residents have done via ‘Register Your Presence’. This is to enable communication to you, but also to track your location should you need to be evacuated. The Embassies can often provide other types of support, e.g. medical care or extended prescriptions.

Be aware that Dubai takes a very dim view of sharing negative content, so don’t film during emergency alerts or share anything that could be viewed as damaging to the UAE.

At time of writing, more than 130,000 Britons in the Middle East have registered their presence, whilst over 7,000 have returned to the UK.

If you have a confirmed flight, keep track of the updates using the links listed previously. If you don’t have a confirmed flight yet, there isn’t a need to pester your carrier because they will know your needs, it’s not like they will put you on a flight just because you keep contacting them.

If you are booked via an agent or third party, be aware they may not as ‘up to speed’ as the carriers as the situation is rapidly changing, plus it adds another level of communication.

My advice would be, if you don’t have a confirmed flight even though you have a booking, you “should prepare for the worst, and hope for the best”. That means, it’s difficult to know how long you may have to wait, and if you’re spending out of pocket you may need to cut your costs to stretch.

I do know some Emirates passengers had confirmed flights and were then contacted to bring forward their flight, so that’s good news and why you should always try to stay positive

If you’re a regular reader, you’re probably aware of the many tips I give about things like My Emirates Pass and ENTERTAINER Dubai, although these are only two ways.

Dubai is a very competitive market for deals, so do shop around - for example, some venues are in both My Emirates Pass and ENTERTAINER, but with varying discounts e.g. 20-30% discount vs Buy One Get one Free.

🔗 My Emirates Pass
🔗 ENTERTAINER DUBAI

You can get a 10% discount on ENTERTAINER Dubai with promo code EDSD2026, and it’s very easy for it to pay for itself with one or two redemptions.

However, it’s not just about dining out in restaurants. Don’t overlook the obvious, such as food delivery apps e.g. Talabat, Uber Eats, Careem and Deliveroo - but do bear in mind it’s Ramadan and they’re also very busy due to the situation.

You may find local supermarkets, even the small ones may deliver to your hotel or apartment, and there are several local apps you can use to order these. Choitrams, Carrefour, Instashop, Kibsons and Spinneys have delivery services, whilst Instashop is one of the ‘all-rounders’.

If you have laundry to do, avoid the costly in-hotel services and either go to local outlets of cleaners such as XXXX or use apps like Laundryheap, Washmen or The Laundry Hub.

If you haven’t already done so, you may think about getting a local SIM (if you are expecting deliveries, drivers etc. as they will likely not contact an international number). If you need more data or minutes, you could contact your home airtime supplier and ask for a ‘bolt on’ for roaming or try an e-SIM if it’s data you will use more.

One of the biggest costs with being stranded is likely to be accommodation, and this is where it can get a bit complicated.

There’s been a lot of misunderstanding this week due to how the news broke from the GCAA (see above), and I’ll try and explain the developments to the best of my understanding.

First, the GCAA announced this update, following a press release by WAM News Agency. This included some copy from DCT Abu Dhabi, which said

“ In light of current circumstances and given that some guests have reached their checkout date but are unable to travel for reasons beyond their control, we kindly requested to extend their stay until they are able to depart. The cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi.”

The initial press release by WAM detailed the GCAA had “covered the cost of meals and accommodation for thousands of stranded passengers as flights were cancelled before an airport shutdown and airspace closure across the UAE.”

A couple of key points to note before we go further.

Next up, the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) issued a circular to hotels stating that hotel costs would be covered, including where to send invoices.

What’s important to note here is that there is no end date given, nor any explicit reference to whether that is only stranded transit passengers, or also holidaymakers who may be facing extended stays.

Now to the fact that’s being missed, is that the initial GCCA announcement referenced ‘all UAE’ whereas the DCT AD circular obviously only covers Abu Dhabi hotels.

Dubai has a far, far higher percentage of hotels and travellers than Abu Dhabi, and most importantly, is a different emirate with its own entities, such as Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

I would suggest it’s not reasonable nor realistic to expect Dubai to match Abu Dhabi’s gesture, and this was proven when DET issued a circular to Dubai hotels stating,

“that hotel guests who were due to check out but are unable to do so as a result of these circumstances are offered the option to extend their stay under the same conditions as their initial booking.

“It is important that no guests are evicted under these circumstances.”

So to that point, there was no reference as to DET covering the costs of extended stays, just guests could not be evicted and had to have the same terms (presumably rates) as their initial booking.

As an aside, if you are facing issues with a hotel on either of these two points, this Reel will help as it explains how to complain to DET

What sometimes happens with these things is news or other information drips out, and the link makes a reference that was not mentioned when the news first broke namely,

“We would appreciate it if you could notify the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism at the earliest opportunity in case a guest is unable to cover the costs associated with an extension of his or her stay, providing the following details:

“• The guest’s initial length of stay
• Details of any stay extensions
• Whether accommodation costs are being covered by a third party, where applicable
• Any challenges or concerns encountered”

So how I read this - and it’s only interpretation - is that there may be a case, in genuine hardship, that DET may be able to help, but it would need to be escalated to DET and is by no means guaranteed.

Phew! That’s a lot, isn’t it? In a nutshell, Dubai has not offered to cover the hotel costs of all extended stays for stranded travellers… as yet.

To another point, and that is - if the reason for your extended stay is flight cancellation, you could also speak to your carrier. As mentioned previously, they are not obligated to provide food and hotel if they are GCC carriers departing from the UAE but remember, “shy kids get no sweets”.

Although this is obviously discretionary, and if everyone ‘jumps on’ it could ‘kill the Golden Goose’, but I do know of people in Emirates-owned hotels who have asked nicely and Emirates are ‘looking into’ covering their costs.

Whatever your situation, it’s essential that you keep all receipts for any expenses incurred. It could be in time, there is clearer direction about recouping costs and if so, you will need to prove your expenditure.

Last but not least, don’t wait for the hotel to advise you - try direct negotiation as I know some hotels are being very customer-focused and offering discounts, some up to 40%, off the rates the guests were already paying.

If you are stranded in Dubai, it’s worth knowing what your options may be - including a few contingencies.

Whilst the numbers being mentioned of over 130,000 Brits registering with the FCDO, it doesn’t mean all want to go back to the UK. As a sweeping generalisation, I’d suggest the vast majority of people looking to return will be holidaymakers - which reduces that number by quite a degree.

So your options, put simply are :-

A key thought to bear in mind at times like this - be aware of how many people may be considering the same thing. I mention this as people often moan about ‘surge pricing’ by airlines, hotels, transport providers but it’s not always the provider profiteering - sometimes it’s the sheer volume of peaches by travellers (and perhaps journalists!).

I mention this because whilst Oman was the ‘golden option’ a few days ago, as it’s come to everyone’s awareness now, and more are trying it, it can lead to delays at the border. And of course, there’s only a finite amount of transport from the border that you would have to coordinate with.

Everything up to this section is simpler to comment on, as it’s what’s happened or happening, and of course, nobody can predict the future.

Whilst we don’t know what may happen, or how long things may last, and what the consequences may be, it’s perhaps easier to to consider things from a high level overview.

Of course, the usual recommendations apply - do your own research, from objective sources, and make yourself aware of your rights, and keep up with all developments.

Just as with the pandemic, it’s often a case of taking things a step at a time, and day to day, as the situation can change quickly.

What I would always suggest on matters like this is, if it’s going to be in any stressful for you, it’s perhaps going to impact your holiday.

If you have travel booked already, you need to keep in close contact with your agent and/or travel provider/s, as the situation may be just as fluid for them.

Try to look at things from the provider’s point of view, so for instance, Emirates and their flight bookings, they tend to prioritise the next two-three days, and then work on the next block of issues to tackle. Similarly, your agent will prefer to deal on a priority basis, so will likely set up a process to focus on immediate dates first.

If you have anything that has a deadline in the coming week or so, be that travel or payment, you should check with your provider - perhaps on their socials or websites first - as often they will update first there.

What can be worth considering though, is if you call or email the ‘front line’ customer services, understand and be realistic about how overwhelmed they may be.

As regular readers will be aware, I’m a big believer in having one overarching priority that makes anything else academic or irrelevant.

In this case, it’s all well and good reading all the ‘advice’ sources, but at best, they can only inform you - not make your decision for you.

To that end, I would definitely recommend keeping across these excellent sources of travel advice :-

If you have a ‘package holiday’ i.e. at least two ‘linked’ components, such as hotel and flights booked together, it’s worth being aware of your additional consumer rights under Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements 2018 (PTR).

If you have one component, such as a flight or hotel, you should be aware of your booking conditions. If you have involved a third party, e.g. a travel agent, there may be additional conditions as they are a third party - and thus a bit more to take on board to consider.

What you may find is third party providers will often be led by what the initial provider may decide; for instance, Emirates may make announcements about their flights and any extensions, refund or policy changes, but they may also stipulate if you have a third party booking to deal with that provider, not them.

For example, this is the latest on Emirates Travel Updates,

Customers booked to travel between 28 February until and including 31 March have these options :-

What I’m saying here in a long-winded (but hopefully helpful way) is to step back and consider your strategy. Sometimes a mental break, or a small passage in time, can crystallise your instincts.

Before you make any decision, and assuming you’ve done your research and are fully aware what your options are, I come back to this approach,

Think what your priority is, and there should be only one. It could be you want flexibility of choice, or that you’ve paid for it so you will go anyway, or it could be you just don’t want to feel you have to go. Or many other possible considerations.

From there, once you have your decision, it’s what to do about it.

Always think in terms of an ‘ideal outcome’, because your ideal outcome e.g. a refund may not be their ideal outcome. Agents and providers often would rather keep your money, or at least your future business via a credit note, which is why it’s essential you’re fully aware of your rights and the conditions you booked under.

If you’re keen to research all of this further, look into what happened during the pandemic with the CMA, ABTA and PTR 2018.

Bear in mind many agents and providers make their decisions based on their business practices, not always what their consumer rights obligations are. This is why it’s imperative you know the situation and what you can reasonably expect from them.

In some cases, you may need some sort of discretionary decision - e.g. asking for a goodwill gesture or refund, or even something different to what may be on their announcements. The best way to deal with this is not to go to the customer-facing side of the business, but rather, put your request in writing to the Directors at the registered business address.

Remember, you have more chance of catching bees with honey rather than vinegar, which means, if you’re nice, gracious, polite, respectful, empathetic and fair, you have more chance of success than demanding, being entitled or fractious. Ask for help and their consideration, you may get it; demand it, you may not.

I’ve tried to cover a lot here, in a brief space, so it’s a balance between volume of information vs heaps of words on a page.

By all means, if there’s anything I can help you with, or any questions you may have, feel free to drop me an email and I’ll do what I can to help.

It’s been a long week for me as I’ve been involved with several people and situation on this Dubai situation, and there’s a lot of things to take on board.

Whether it’s something small and quick, or something more nuanced or detailed, again - feel free to drop me a line and let’s see what can be done