‘Do we have to wait until someone gets hurt?’: Hongkongers stuck in Dubai face travel chaos

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Theodora YuMarch 4, 2026 at 03:26 AM

AI Summary

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Hong Kong residents are facing travel chaos in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, following the recent US-Israeli attack on Iran. As of Tuesday, the Hong Kong Immigration Department had received inquiries from at least 585 stranded residents seeking assistance with flight information and schedules. Many are experiencing repeated flight cancellations, rising hotel expenses, and limited communication resources. Approximately 13,000 flights in and out of the Middle East have been cancelled since Saturday. Frustrated travelers have reported purchasing Emirates flights online only to have them cancelled and refunded. The Immigration Department has suggested some travelers consider overland routes to neighboring countries like Oman to find available flights home.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Cirium 30% Oman 40% United Arab Emirates (UAE) 50% Emirates 50% Iran ×260% United States ×260% Israel ×260% Immigration Department ×270% Middle East ×270% Dubai ×280% Hong Kong ×290%

Keywords

travel chaos 90% flight cancellations 80% stranded hong kong residents 80% dubai 70% middle east 70% immigration department 60% rising hotel costs 50% emergency policies 50% us-israeli attack on iran 40%