Flying Into the Storm: Why Expats Fought to Return to a Closed Gulf

In late February 2026, as the skies over the Middle East abruptly closed following the escalation of regional conflict, international airports became waiting areas for thousands of stranded travellers. With my own flight back to the Gulf cancelled indefinitely, I watched intently as the events unfolded.

While embassies issued advisories and many foreigners sought refuge away from the escalating tensions, a distinct counter-current emerged. Many expatriates who have built their lives in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were actively searching for any viable route back, trying to get back into a region in the midst of active conflict. Why? Because it is home.

Gorana’s Story: A Mothers Instictinct Drives Dubai Return

For Gorana, a resident of Dubai for over two decades, the urgency to return was maternal. She had travelled to France with her husband on a business trip on 24 February, leaving their children in Dubai with her sister. They had originally planned to return via Jordan on 2 March.

However, when the strikes were initiated on 28 February, the couple immediately booked an Emirates flight direct to Dubai. By the time they reached Charles de Gaulle Airport, the UAE airspace had closed. “The following day, Emirates arranged accommodation for us at the airport hotel and covered all necessary arrangements while alternative solutions were being explored.”

“Our children, first and foremost [were our motivation],” Gorana explained. Their initial contingency plan was to fly Oman Air to Muscat and drive across the border, so they bought the tickets. Yet, on 2 March, the same day they were meant to fly out to Oman, Emirates informed them of a special flight by Etihad to Abu Dhabi for returning residents, culminating in a flight home that same night.

Though the separation from their children was stressful, Gorana expressed her confidence in her adopted home, “We felt confident that the UAE was prepared and capable of protecting its residents”. The ordeal, she observed, reinforced her belief that she lives in a region where “challenges are overcome quickly, and resilience is part of the culture.”

Gemma’s Story: Independently Navigating a Path to Kuwait

Gemma found herself caught in the chaos in Cairo. En route to the airport, news broke of a missile strike directed at Iran. She proceeded to her gate, only to find out that Kuwait airport had closed just before boarding time.

Following several days of postponed re-bookings, she took matters into her own hands. Booking her own convoluted itinerary, she flew from Cairo to Jeddah, and then onwards towards Dammam—a flight that was diverted to Riyadh before eventually landing in Dammam later that day.

The most difficult leg of Gemma’s journey was crossing back into Kuwait. Faced with transport quotes far beyond her reach, she eventually negotiated a 900-riyal fare just to get to the Saudi-Kuwait border, where she had to negotiate with another driver to navigate the crossing. A friend waited on the Kuwaiti side to take her home.

As someone relatively new to the Middle East who does not speak Arabic, Gemma found it difficult navigating the crisis independently. Returning took a physical toll; she spent a week recovering from an illness she attributes to the stress of the journey.

Yet, her determination was rewarded by the support she experienced. “I am very thankful for the kindness of strangers and everyone who was offering me help,” which she found in Kuwait. She reflected, “I’m very thankful for the place that I live in and the friends I have made.”

Steve’s Story: Career Crossing – Cairo to Qaisumah

Another expatriate, Steve, was also in Cairo with friends for a planned long weekend to celebrate Kuwait’s National and Liberation Days. When flights were grounded on 28 February, the day of their return, “We collected our bags, got some accommodation and truly wondered what was next…”

Steve, who has lived in the region for nearly a decade and could work remotely, waited for his airline, Jazeera Airways, to organise an alternative. “Credit to Jazeera Airways in their attempt to keep us fully informed. I had friends [in Cairo] so was happy to stay”.

It took two weeks, and many re-scheduled and cancelled re-bookings in between, but, driven by a desire to return primarily for his employment, he eventually flew from Cairo to Qaisumah in Saudi Arabia on 11 March. From there, Jazeera organised road transport.

As an Australian citizen, Steve secured a Saudi visa on arrival, “which was processed at Qaisumah Airport Passport Control pretty efficiently.” He observed, “Qaisumah Airport seemed a modern facility.” Steve and his fellow passengers then “boarded 2 buses for the journey to Kuwait”. He crossed the Salmi Port border alongside a group of roughly one hundred fellow passengers—a process that took several hours to clear both Saudi and Kuwaiti formalities.

He states “I have been in the region for nearly 10 years and of course, have never experienced anything of this nature.” However, while his friends and family back in Australia remain “very concerned” about his choices, Steve’s perspective mirrors a common sentiment among seasoned expatriates. “I feel safe having returned to Kuwait,” he noted, expressing his belief that the situation will subside and return to the ‘Middle East norm’.

Belonging Over Borders: Not Fleeing, but Returning Home

Gorana, Gemma, and Steve share more than just the exhaustion of diverted flights, long delays, and overland border crossings. Their journeys highlight a unique characteristic of the GCC expatriate community.

When conflict arises, the instinct for many is not to flee to the safety of their passport countries, but to exhaust every available option, route, and resource to return to the Gulf. Whether driven by family, career, or simply a profound sense of belonging, these stories illustrate that for millions of foreign nationals, this region is home, even when the skies above it are closed. As for me, I am still awaiting the resumption of flights and my subsequent rescheduling to return.