The usually bustling streets in the travel hub of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain quiet while the city's airport -- normally one of the busiest in the world -- is practically deserted following Iranian missile attacks that have affected civilian areas over the past few days.
Joint military strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran on Saturday have triggered a sharp escalation across the Middle East, setting off waves of missile exchanges, mounting casualties, and far-reaching political and security repercussions.
Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on various targets, with explosions reported in numerous countries including the UAE.
In recent days, the sounds of blasts have echoed in Dubai, leading to a noticeable decrease in the number of people and vehicles on the streets, while UAE authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant.
The closure of airspace across the Gulf region has also caused widespread disruption and left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.
Dubai International Airport now appears virtually empty, with no information displayed on the arrival boards.
Only one screen is operational for departures, and while the majority of flights have been canceled, the UAE has now started permitting a limited number to take off via what it is calling "safe air corridors" in careful coordination with other Gulf countries.
Some travelers gathered in the airport's waiting area on Tuesday, hoping to secure a spot on one of the handful of flights out of the country.
"I'm going back to India. I'm really excited. I came as a tourist. I arrived a week ago. I should have left on Sunday. But I'm leaving on Tuesday, today, two days later," said one Indian traveler.
However, many more remain stuck and can only wait patiently for more updates from airlines.
"I bought one (ticket) a month ago. But the plane that should fly now is canceled. I cannot fly away," said a stricken visitor from Germany.
Despite the circumstances, others say they will stay put and see how the situation unfolds.
"Yeah, I will stay in Dubai," said a worker from Uganda.
The number of visitors in the typically lively Dubai Mall is also noticeably down, while the landmark Apple Store is also presently closed.
The UAE's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that its air defense systems have intercepted close to 900 Iranian drones since the crisis erupted.
The ministry also confirmed that the attacks on the UAE have resulted in three fatalities as well as 78 minor injuries.
Dubai streets remain quiet as travel disruption continues after Iranian attacks
Türkiye's Trade Ministry on Monday announced a temporary suspension of day-trip passenger crossings at the Turkish-Iranian border, leaving some uncertainty over whether the border was fully closed to Iranians.
However, there was activity at the Kapıkoy border crossing between Türkiye and Iran on Tuesday in the border city of Van. While day-trip passenger crossings have been temporarily suspended, other controlled crossings continue to operate.
A common sight was Iranians returning home, despite the risks posed by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
"Our family is there, our loved ones are there, our homeland is there. Are we supposed to just leave and stay here? Of course we will return. My relatives, my family, my father, my mother, my children. Everyone is there," said Hamit, an Iranian citizen returning home.
"There is a war in our country. We are all working here, but that's why we are going back. We need to be with our families. The last time we heard from them was two days ago, and then everything shut down. The internet, the phone lines, all of them stopped. We haven't heard anything since," said Vahit, another Iranian citizen returning home.
Some legal experts in Türkiye warned that suspending regular passenger crossings for Iranians seeking to flee the fighting could lead to an increase in irregular border crossing attempts, particularly if the conflict intensifies.
"When people are unable to cross borders with a passport or a document that substitutes for one, they may attempt to enter a country through irregular routes, sometimes with the assistance or encouragement of human smugglers, by trying to cross the borders through alternative means," said Mahmut Kacan, a lawyer.
Türkiye is also a founding signatory of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which places certain international obligations on the country toward people fleeing conflict.
"In such cases, states are required to take facilitating measures and to provide an environment and procedures through which people can ensure their safety and meet their humanitarian needs," said the lawyer.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Tuesday also addressed concerns over a possible migration wave from Iran to Türkiye. He said the government has completed the necessary planning and capabilities to respond, adding that Iran is currently not allowing its own citizens to leave through the border.
The United States and Israel on Saturday launched strikes against Iran, plunging the war-torn Middle East into a new round of violent conflicts. Iran has retaliated with a series of counterattacks against Israel and U.S. targets across the region.
Türkiye tightens border crossings with Iran amid regional tension
