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Alfie Hughes and Callum Brody were meant to be in Dubai for just three hours but their brief layover turned into an extended stay.
12:31, Wed, Mar 4, 2026 Updated: 12:43, Wed, Mar 4, 2026
Alfie and Callum (Image: Sky News/YouTube)
Two British holidaymakers who anticipated spending merely three hours in Dubai claim they are now stranded in the Gulf metropolis indefinitely — and have been surprised by one unexpected aspect. Alfie Hughes and Callum Brody were journeying back from Manila when their brief stopover in Dubai transformed into a prolonged visit after flights were suspended amid rising tensions across the Middle East.
Alfie recounted the moment they realised their plans were unraveling. Speaking to Sky News, he said: "It was on Saturday, the 28th. We were flying home from Manila. There were news channels on the flight, so we knew what was going on probably about four hours out from Dubai. About four hours out, we realised what was happening, so we had an idea that we probably weren't going to be getting out of there. But yeah, it's been a bit of a nightmare." By the time their aircraft landed, the situation had worsened. "We landed at the airport and all of the flights to London that were due to leave a couple of hours before ours were already delayed by a couple of hours. So we knew the likelihood was fairly slim that we were going to get out of there and that we were going to be stuck for a few days.
Flights are mostly grounded at Dubai Airport (Image: GettyImages)
"I'd say it was probably around five o'clock local time that they finally cancelled all the flights. There was pandemonium — everybody trying to find their bags and get airport vouchers."
The disruption compelled the duo to act quickly. Callum explained: "The first night in the airport was chaos, so we paid for a hotel out of pocket. Fortunately, since then Emirates have covered the hotel and food costs that we've incurred. We've never been to Dubai before, but it definitely seems quieter than it otherwise would be. Any other day-to-day expenses outside of the meals we've been covering ourselves."
That unusual tranquillity has stood out to them. Despite Dubai's reputation for bustling shopping centres, congested motorways and crowded tourist attractions, they describe the city as muted — a stark contrast to their expectations.
Their prolonged stop comes as Iran has carried out strikes across the Middle East, targeting locations in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Concerns are growing that Tehran may continue retaliatory action for up to a week, heightening anxiety for travellers in the region.
Passengers are given advice at the closed Emirates check-in area (Image: JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
The UK Government has confirmed that roughly 300,000 British nationals are currently in Gulf nations affected by the escalating conflict. Of these, 102,000 have formally registered their whereabouts with the Foreign Office, as officials prepare contingency measures including a potential large-scale evacuation.
Sir Keir Starmer said the Government is "looking at all options to support our people," while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper added that comprehensive preparations are underway. British citizens in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE have been advised to register online and follow official travel guidance, which may change at short notice.
For Alfie and Callum, the prolonged uncertainty is taking its toll. While they acknowledge that their circumstances are comparatively fortunate, the stress is becoming more apparent.
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"We're definitely on edge. I think we're probably a bit more relaxed about it than some people. We're more frustrated that it's taking so long to get home. We're aware that we're in quite a privileged position — we've been put up in a hotel and have food provided — whereas others in the region don't have access to that, so it's a lot tougher on them than it is on us. Frustration is probably the biggest feeling we have at the moment.
"For us, it's frustrating because we're not over here by choice and neither of us ever planned to end up here. We're grateful for the accommodation and hospitality we've received, but we just want to get home now."
English (US) · 