Trapped in Dubai: How SMEs Can Support Employees Caught in International Crisis
Posted on March 6, 2026
When my wife booked a five-day holiday to Dubai for us, I was looking forward to sunshine, relaxation, and a break from the demands of endless rain in the UK. What I didn’t anticipate was that my departure date would coincide with escalating tensions in the Middle East and that I’d still be here nearly two weeks later, watching the world’s busiest airport operate at a carefully managed capacity as we navigate what is, effectively, a war zone.
The attacks on Iran started on the exact day we were due to leave. Within hours, everything changed.
The First 48 Hours: Scary, But Not as Bad as the Headlines Suggested
The first two days were genuinely frightening. I’ll be honest I was scared. We were woken in the middle of the first night by an alarm blaring on our mobile phones. The message was stark: missile attacks were imminent. We were instructed to move away from windows, seek shelter in interior rooms, and await further updates.
What followed was the sound of the UAE’s air defense system working overtime. Hundreds of missiles and drones were being fired at the Emirates, and the missile defence system was visibly, audibly working hard to intercept them. The sky lit up with explosions. The windows rattled. You could hear the impact of interceptions echoing across Dubai.
But here’s what I need to say: the UK press made it sound far worse than it actually was.
Yes, it was scary. Yes, there was real danger. But the air defense system did its job. The missiles were intercepted. The immediate threat was managed. Once you understood what was happening the fear became more manageable. The narrative back home painted a picture of chaos and devastation. The reality, while serious, was more controlled than the headlines suggested.
For the next 48 hours, we were effectively locked down. The hotel became our world. Flights were grounded. I found myself glued to news feeds, refreshing my email obsessively, and wondering how long this would last. I also found myself thinking about my children and family back home what were they doing? Had they seen the news? Were they worried about us?
The Gradual Return to Normal
Over the following days, something remarkable happened. The situation stabilised. The missile attacks reduced. The immediate threat receded. Gradually, the hotel moved from lockdown mode back to something resembling normality.
Not all at once, though. Some restaurants started to reopen as the week went on, though not all of them. But it was a sign that life was returning. Staff returned to their posts. Guests ventured back to the pool. Life began to resume its rhythm albeit an anxious, uncertain rhythm.
But the real bottleneck wasn’t the security situation. It was the airspace.
The Airspace Crisis: Cancelled Flights and Rebooking Challenges
Dubai International Airport is the world’s busiest airport by international passenger traffic. In normal times, it handles over 200,000 passengers daily. Right now, it’s operating at a carefully managed capacity which makes sense. We’re effectively in a war zone. The gradual reopening of airspace is a cautious, measured process, and that’s entirely appropriate.
I’ve been booked on two flights home already. Both were cancelled. The airlines handled it professionally they were apologetic and willing to rebook us on later flights without penalty. There was no drama, no refusal to help. They simply couldn’t operate those flights, and they made it clear they’d get us home as soon as they could. Each cancellation was disappointing, but the rebooking process was straightforward.
What was supposed to be a five-day break has now stretched to fourteen days, with no guaranteed end date. But given the circumstances, that’s understandable.
Every day, I find myself opening Flightradar24 my new favourite app. I monitor the flights into and out of Dubai obsessively. It’s become a ritual. I watch the planes on the screen, tracking aircraft as they navigate the airspace, and I can see the gradual increase in traffic. It’s encouraging a sign that things are moving in the right direction. The app gives me a sense of control in a situation where there isn’t much control to be had. Watching those planes move across the screen, I feel connected to the outside world and closer to home.
The Foreign Office has registered approximately 130,000 British nationals in the UAE who need assistance to return home. One hundred and thirty thousand people. The scale of this repatriation effort is staggering. Given that we’re operating in a conflict zone, the measured pace of flight resumption makes sense. Even as flights gradually increase, it’s going to take weeks to get everyone home. And that’s okay. Safety comes first.
The Business Impact: When Your Employee Can’t Come Home
As I’ve sat here in my hotel room, my mind has kept returning to a crucial question: what if this were one of my employees? What if someone from my team had booked a holiday and found themselves in this situation? How would I handle it? What would I owe them?
For small business owners, this scenario presents a genuine challenge. You have an employee stranded abroad, unable to return to work, with no clear timeline for their return. Their holiday has become an involuntary extended absence. The normal rules of employment don’t quite fit this extraordinary situation.
Practical Steps SMEs Can Take
Stay in Touch But Respect Their Situation
First, maintain regular contact. Your employee is likely anxious, possibly frightened, and definitely uncertain. A simple message saying “We’re thinking of you, keep us updated when you can” goes a long way. But don’t bombard them with work demands. They’re managing a crisis; they don’t need the added stress of urgent emails about quarterly reports.
Clarify Holiday and Pay Arrangements
This is where things get legally and ethically complex. The employee was on approved holiday when circumstances beyond their control prevented their return. Most employment contracts don’t account for international crises. Here’s what I’d recommend:
- Don’t penalise them. The days they’re unable to return shouldn’t count against their holiday allowance. They didn’t choose to stay; they were prevented from leaving.
- Continue paying them. If they’re unable to work due to circumstances beyond their control, they shouldn’t suffer financially. Pay them as normal while they’re stranded.
- Document everything. Keep records of communications, flight cancellations, and the timeline of events. This protects both you and your employee.
Enable Remote Work Where Possible
If your employee is safe and willing, consider whether they can work from their hotel or accommodation. Internet connectivity in Dubai is generally excellent. If their role allows it, remote work can provide structure, purpose, and income continuation. It also keeps them productively engaged rather than anxiously waiting.
However, don’t pressure them. If they’re emotionally or mentally unable to work, respect that. A crisis like this takes a psychological toll.
Provide Practical Support
- Offer to help them explore alternative travel routes. Check if flights via other hubs or routes are available.
- Provide access to the Foreign Office’s support resources and updates. Share official guidance and travel updates with them.
- Assist with urgent financial needs. If they need additional funds for extended accommodation or supplies, consider whether your business can help bridge that gap.
- Keep them informed. Update them about any government repatriation efforts or support schemes that may help them return.
Plan for Their Return
When they do finally make it home, they’ll likely be exhausted, emotionally drained, and possibly affected by the experience. Plan for a phased return to work. Don’t expect them to hit the ground running. Give them time to decompress and readjust.
The Bigger Picture
This crisis has exposed how fragile our assumptions about travel and work really are. We assume our employees can take holidays without incident. We assume flights will operate as scheduled. We assume international travel is straightforward and predictable.
It isn’t. And as a business owner, that’s something worth thinking about.
For SMEs, supporting an employee in this situation isn’t just about legal compliance or contractual obligations. It’s about demonstrating that you value your people that when things go wrong, you have their back. That loyalty, that human decency, is what builds genuine team culture.
I don’t know exactly when I’ll be home. My flight is booked for four days from now, but I’ve learned not to take that for granted. What I do know is that when I return, I’ll be thinking differently about how I support my team, how I plan for contingencies, and how I respond when circumstances spiral beyond anyone’s control.
For now, I’m watching Flightradar24, staying in touch with my team, and trying to remain patient. Dubai is beautiful. The crisis has passed. But home is still 130,000 people away, and that’s a queue I’m going to be waiting in for a while yet.
