Hundreds of thousands of Britons 'could be stranded indefinitely' in the Gulf as ministers scramble to bring them home

This morning, plumes of smoke could be seen rising from Dubai International Airport, the world’s second busiest, as the Gulf emirate endures a second consecutive day of aerial bombardment.

As well as expats and dual nationals, thousands of British holidaymakers are also currently stuck amid the ongoing conflict.

As a result, ministers are currently scrambling to draw up contingency plans to bring back the huge numbers of UK nationals should the situation continue to deteriorate.

Work is currently underway in Whitehall to devise an emergency evacuation strategy, per The Times.

In order to calculate its response, the Government is asking Britons in the Middle East to register their presence in the region.

This is intended to help planners determine where citizens are amid the travel chaos.

The Government is currently requesting those in Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Israel and Palestine to register their presence.

Dubai, home to roughly 90 per cent foreign residents, has cultivated an image of luxury and glamour that has attracted significant numbers of British expatriates seeking sunshine and tax advantages.

Around 240,000 UK nationals now live, work and study in the Gulf city, making them one of the largest Western resident groups alongside the thousands who travel on holiday there. More than 5,000 British companies also operate across the Emirates.

Dubai also welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors from the UK in 2024.

Human rights lawyer Ivon Sampson, who lives in Dubai, told GB News that many in the expat community feared being trapped.

"They all had the same concern that if it is a long, drawn-out war, we will all be stuck in Dubai," he said.

"I was supposed to go back tomorrow for a trial and mediation next week, and that's obviously been put on hold."

Another British expat in Dubai told GB News he heard loud booms throughout the weekend and could see missiles and drones being intercepted in the pristine blue skies.

The Foreign Office has told Britons in the United Arab Emirates to "immediately shelter in place".

"Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities," the Government advisory stressed.

British Airways has cancelled flights from the UK to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until at least early March, citing regional airspace closures and security concerns. The carrier said affected passengers would be offered refunds or rebookings.

Airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester reported cancellations and delays on UAE-bound departures as airlines rerouted aircraft to avoid closed corridors over the Gulf.

Emirates temporarily suspended several services to and from Dubai, while Etihad Airways paused departures from Abu Dhabi amid the escalating crisis.

Travellers have been urged to check flight status before heading to the airport, with further disruption expected if tensions in the region persist.

On Saturday, waves of Iranian missiles and drones targeted some of Dubai's most recognisable landmarks and vital infrastructure.

The Palm Jumeirah artificial island was rocked by explosions, with witnesses reporting blasts near a five-star hotel and smoke billowing from the area. Four people sustained injuries in a fire at a building on the development.

Drone wreckage sparked a blaze at the base of the iconic Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped structure often described as the world's first seven-star hotel, though authorities reported no casualties there.

Dubai airport sustained minor damage to a concourse, leaving four staff members wounded. Meanwhile, in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, one person died, and seven were injured at Zayed International Airport.

The United Arab Emirates reported that Iranian forces fired 137 missiles and 209 drones at its territory, with the majority intercepted by defence systems before reaching their targets.

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