Travel Disrupted: A Marseillais’s Ordeal Amidst Middle East Tensions
For French citizens stranded in Dubai following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, relief is gradually arriving. Dubai International Airport, a global hub for international travel, announced on Saturday a partial resumption of operations after a brief suspension earlier that day.
Benjamin, a 29-year-old from Marseille, finally landed at Marseille Provence Airport on Saturday, March 7th, after more than a week of travel challenges. Originally scheduled to return to Marseille last Thursday, his journey became significantly more complex.
He describes his time in Dubai as a “nightmare week.” “From Sunday to Thursday, no flights were available. The government advised us to remain there,” he recounts.
Fortunately, Benjamin was able to stay with a friend. This was followed by administrative chaos: “The consulate said they couldn’t do anything for us. Dubai Airport was closed for several days. It was panic.”
A Circuitous Route Home
He eventually traveled to Sharjah, another city in the United Arab Emirates, less than two hours from Dubai, to catch a bus to Oman. After an eight-hour journey, he secured a flight to Istanbul for 1200 euros, finally reaching Marseille from the Turkish capital.
Throughout his ordeal, he describes a chaotic and tense atmosphere: “People from all over the world wanted to return home. It was a free-for-all. You had to be assertive to get a bus ticket. Some taxi drivers were charging up to 400 euros,” he recalls. “Oman airport was crowded with crisis cells from many countries, but not France.”
The situation remains fragile in the United Arab Emirates, which intercepted 15 missiles and 119 drones on Saturday.
We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC.
Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change.
