Dubai residents are driving to Oman and Saudi Arabia to escape regional flight chaos after Middle East airspace closures. Dubai airports remain shut for a third day following Israeli and US strikes on Iran, with Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Emirates postponing flights indefinitely. Over half of Monday's scheduled flights were cancelled, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

Charter flight demand has exploded, with EnterJet reporting 40% booking increases since Saturday. Muscat has become the primary alternative hub, though securing landing slots has grown competitive. Luxe Jets chartered an A320 for Muscat to Istanbul flights, while some operators charge £20,000 per seat for Oman-to-Europe routes. Private jet availability remains constrained by EU safety warnings covering the entire region.

Wealthy residents are paying premium prices for evacuation, though some private operators refuse exceptions even at double rates. A Dubai-based Russian oligarch offered twice the normal price for a Moscow flight but was turned away. Meanwhile, many expats remain determined to stay, with one British resident dismissing safety concerns and another saying colleagues would need to be "shipped out." The crisis has rattled the expat community that moved to Dubai partly for its perceived stability away from geopolitical risks.