Dubai: Tourists spend billions of Vietnamese dong to charter private planes to escape tense zones.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, thousands of tourists in Dubai are seeking to escape by private jet costing 5 billion VND (approximately $1.75) or by traveling 16 hours by road to neighboring countries.
Thousands of tourists are scrambling to leave Dubai and the UAE as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. The British government is now planning repatriation flights from Muscat, Oman, for stranded citizens, with around 14,000 people having already registered online to leave the region's hotspots.
Demand for private jet charters has surged.
Private jet charter services are experiencing a surge in demand despite the exorbitant costs. SHY Aviation (London) reports receiving over 400 requests from more than 1,000 clients wishing to leave the region; however, the number of available aircraft is limited due to strict airspace controls.
Most private flights depart from Muscat or Dubai World Central Airport to Europe or Türkiye. Notably, one family of 12 spent over £143,000 (over 5 billion VND) to charter a private jet to leave with their pets. Investor Samuel Leeds also caused controversy when he posted a video of his family leaving Dubai for England on a £150,000 Gulfstream, claiming that chartering a private jet "is not a problem if you have the money".
The arduous overland journey to neighboring countries
For those without access to private jets, the only option is to travel by road for 12-16 hours to Oman or Saudi Arabia before finding a flight back home. Des Steel, a veteran assisting travelers, says the total cost of this journey can exceed $1,000, including driver fees and a one-way plane ticket.
Many celebrities have found themselves in similar situations. Vicky Pattison, a British reality TV personality, and her husband had to drive over 11 hours to Oman after three consecutive flights were cancelled. She shared that she just wanted to get home as quickly and safely as possible instead of waiting in vain.
The financial burden of being stranded.
Tourists still stranded in Dubai are facing significant financial pressure. Lily Mann, 25, shared that she and her boyfriend, James Shires, incurred an additional £3,000 (over 100 million VND) in hotel costs after their flight back to Manchester was cancelled. Currently, flights back to the UK are mostly only available in business or first class, costing up to £10,000 per person.
The chaotic situation is affecting not only people but also pets. Many animal rescue organizations are reporting a large number of requests for assistance in caring for or abandoning pets from people forced to leave urgently without being able to take their animals with them.
