So I have a slight family issue. In August last year we made a decision to move to Dubai, UAE from London. As part of the process I have been selling my house.
A couple of weeks ago I flew back to the UK leaving my wife & kids in Dubai while I was sorting out bits in the house. I was planning to fly back on Wednesday. The airspace is now closed and lots of cancelled flights both to and from the UK.
I don’t know what is the best thing to do, should I travel to somewhere close the UAE and then have a short flight to get back into Dubai, or sit tight in London and wait it out?
While all this is going on I’m talking to my wife and kids who are scared and just want me to get back as soon as possible. I’ve even considered flying to Saudi Arabia and then drive to the UAE from there.
Any suggestions gratefully received about what I should do as I have no idea and change my mind every few minutes!
Unless you want a lot of commotion, or have them come along, on future trips, I'd recommend getting to your wife and kids however you can. Even if it's pointless to travel, it's a beautiful and romantic gesture. If things get worse and it's not pointless to travel, you'll be happy you went.
I agree, I regularly travel with work and have never had an issue before. Just going to sit tight and hope the airspace opens up in the next few days and I can get back asap.
Oh, I don't recommend waiting, but you know your situation better than I do.
I’m going to work it out tomorrow, see how things are and maybe travel via road from Saudi.
I'd be doing this. Even if you have to fly over Cairo or Istanbul. I'd just do it.
That’s definitely my thinking at the moment, either via Saudi or Oman is another option.
BA still flies to MCT (Muscat) it seems. That's a lot closer than Riyadh.
That’s what I’ve seen but again heard different things and you don’t really know until you get to the airport.
You don't know until you've landed and then found someone willing to drive you the 5-6h to Dubai and then actually get there. But I'd recommend doing it regardless.
Is it possible to drive or take a train?
Possibly via Saudi Arabia, it’s all fluid at the moment so going to see how it looks tomorrow and work it out from there. I’ve never worried about travelling by different means if it’s the best way to get there.
Etihad says it's to be lifted tomorrow, plane trackers seeing repositioning consistent with resuming ops.
If nothing goes more sideways from now I assume you'll probably be able to get back directly from London sooner than if you went elsewhere and took ground.
I tend to agree, that’s why I’m going to sit tight until tomorrow and take it from there. Some airlines are not flying to Dubai until at least Wednesday and some are reviewing tomorrow. Schools are closed and doing online lessons until Wednesday too so maybe that is an indicator.
ya fly to saudi and drive in.
Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran all closed
If drive from Saudi it's 10hrs and need to cross at al ghuwaifat
Hiring a car one way will be iffy
Only other option is muscat?