The first groups of European tourists, including 200 Italian students who had been camping out in Dubai for nearly a week, have returned home. The repatriation operation, while emotional, revealed logistical chaos in the Middle East, where over 12,000 flights have been canceled. While some celebrate their return, thousands of other travelers, including famous artists and celebrities, remain stranded in hotels and airports across the Emirates, Oman, and Turkey.

Return of 200 Students

Italian youth landed safely in Milan after a multi-day wait for evacuation from Dubai.

Sky Paralysis

The cancellation of 12,000 flights caused an unprecedented traffic jam in the Middle East.

Ticket Scams

In Oman, attempts to sell evacuation tickets at extremely inflated prices have been recorded, prompting intervention by the authorities.

Stars in a Trap

Famous artists, such as Bigflo and Oli, and celebrity families remain trapped in the conflict region.

The transport situation in the Middle East has dramatically deteriorated, leading to paralysis of the region's largest air hubs. Mass flight suspensions by key carriers, including LOT and Wizz Air, led to a communication paralysis, leaving thousands of passengers in a state of uncertainty. The most spectacular operational success in recent hours is the return of a group of 200 Italian students who landed at Malpensa Airport in Milan. The youth, welcomed with cheers, reported difficult waiting conditions, during which they received alarming alerts at night. Some passengers returning to Rome and Milan demonstrated their patriotism by singing the national anthem on board the planes, which became a symbol of relief after days spent in uncertainty. The Middle East, and Dubai in particular, has for years played the role of a key global transport hub, connecting Europe with Asia and Australia. Any disruption to stability in this region immediately impacts the global economy and the mobility of millions of people.The crisis affects not only mass tourists but also public figures and the wealthiest residents of the region. French rappers Bigflo and Oli publicly admitted they were blocked in Dubai at a crucial moment for promoting their new album. Meanwhile, German media report the separation of celebrity Verona Pooth's family; her son is in the Emirates while her husband is stuck at Istanbul Airport, which is currently one of the few, albeit overloaded, transit points. In Dubai itself, the phenomenon of wealthy residents building luxury shelters has been noted, indicating the scale of fears about further escalation of the conflict. Meanwhile, in Oman, law enforcement agencies, including Carabinieri, are intervening in cases of fraud involving the sale of airline tickets at drastically inflated prices. „La notte era dura, arrivavano le allerte” (The nights were tough, the alerts were coming in) — Teacher from the group of evacuated studentsThe information chaos is deepened by accusations directed at individual governments. Some Italians in Abu Dhabi expressed frustration, claiming they were abandoned by their own diplomacy, while Spanish citizens reportedly received immediate assistance from their government. Similar sentiments prevail among thousands of French people still camping in hotels, often without a clear prospect of return. This situation calls into question the capacity of consular systems in the face of such a massive transport crisis.

Perspektywy mediów: French and Italian media focus on the dramatic stories of stranded citizens and emotional returns, criticizing the sluggishness of diplomatic services. Middle Eastern media and some business outlets focus on the technical aspects of the air traffic paralysis and attempts to restore market movement.

Mentioned People

  • Verona Pooth — German celebrity whose son is stuck in Dubai.
  • Bigflo — French rapper from the duo Bigflo & Oli, blocked in Dubai.
  • Oli — French rapper, brother of Bigflo, also stranded in the Emirates.