Earlier this week, travellers across the Middle East found themselves caught up in cancellations and delays, as the conflict between Israel and Iran closed down swathes of the region's airspace.
The safety of those on the ground was front of mind. And for many who were travelling on Monday night as tensions escalated, the proximity was worrying. I have spoken to several people whose flights were diverted away from the region, some back to Europe and others to central Asia. A common theme in their reported experiences was a tense atmosphere onboard, but gratitude for the airlines' safety measures and communication.
The knock-on effects continue to be felt, with several airlines' schedules still impacted. Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport were quick to respond, but also to resume many operations.
Airlines are advising passengers check their flight status before leaving for their airport. Chris Whiteoak / The National
It has served as an important reminder of travel protocols and ways to prepare for potential flight cancellations or delays.
The majority of services have now resumed, but here are some key tips if you’re travelling this week.
Don’t assume your flight is on: Check airline and airport communications before travelling.
Leave buffer time in your plans: Delays are still possible even on operating routes.
Review travel insurance: It’s worth checking what is covered when it comes to conflict-related exclusions or delay compensation.
Watch advisory levels: Several countries have issued global caution alerts for citizens and other countries may follow suit.
The flight disruptions occurred during one of the busiest periods for travel, as schools break up for the summer and families prepare to go away on holiday. Dubai International Airport alone has announced that it is expecting more than 3.4 million guests expected to travel through the airport between June 27 and July 9. This week, Gemma White spoke to people who are considering changing their travel plans, and others who have been forced to by cancellations. She offers advice for families travelling out of the UAE in the next few weeks here.
Swap the peaks of the Swiss Alps for Georgia's Caucasus Mountains. Photo: Hotel Kazbegi
Dupe has become something of an internet buzzword, and when it comes to a travel dupe, I am all ears.
We have rounded up where to find pristine Mediterranean beaches without the crowds, mountain retreats that are significantly more wallet-friendly than a Swiss stay, and overwater villas that don't require a flight to the Maldives.
Actor Lionel Boyce filmed and trained in Copenhagen for his role as Marcus in The Bear. Photo: FX Network
I have spoken extensively about how pop culture has inspired my travels. This week, Saeed Saeed lived out my travel dream: visiting Copenhagen to follow in the culinary footsteps of hit TV show The Bear.
He visited restaurants that inspired, featured in and directly informed the show, tucking into pastries and chicken sandwiches, and chatted to key figures in the Danish capital's foodie scene along the way. Read all about his trip here.
The picturesque Lake Sevan in Armenia. Photo: Alexandra Dementyeva
From July 1, UAE residents will no longer need a visa to travel to Armenia. With a quick flight of just over three hours, the country opens up as an ideal weekend escape – offering everything from ancient monasteries and public art to lush nature trails.
Here, Razmig Bedirian, who is from the west Asian country, provides a three-day guide, featuring must-do activities.
Although, he makes it clear that three days can’t capture the country's full cultural and historical richness, it can brush the surface and leave you wanting a return visit!
When you're packing your hand luggage, make sure to include electrolytes. Drinking plenty of water before boarding and when flying is the key to fighting dehydration, and adding electrolytes – especially sodium and potassium – can promote rehydration. There are plenty of options available at pharmacies and supermarkets, but my go-to is Humantra.
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Children who witnessed blood bath want to help others
Aged just 11, Khulood Al Najjar’s daughter, Nora, bravely attempted to fight off Philip Spence. Her finger was injured when she put her hand in between the claw hammer and her mother’s head.
As a vital witness, she was forced to relive the ordeal by police who needed to identify the attacker and ensure he was found guilty.
Now aged 16, Nora has decided she wants to dedicate her career to helping other victims of crime.
“It was very horrible for her. She saw her mum, dying, just next to her eyes. But now she just wants to go forward,” said Khulood, speaking about how her eldest daughter was dealing with the trauma of the incident five years ago. “She is saying, 'mama, I want to be a lawyer, I want to help people achieve justice'.”
Khulood’s youngest daughter, Fatima, was seven at the time of the attack and attempted to help paramedics responding to the incident.
“Now she wants to be a maxillofacial doctor,” Khulood said. “She said to me ‘it is because a maxillofacial doctor returned your face, mama’. Now she wants to help people see themselves in the mirror again.”
Khulood’s son, Saeed, was nine in 2014 and slept through the attack. While he did not witness the trauma, this made it more difficult for him to understand what had happened. He has ambitions to become an engineer.
Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was born in London in a household of mathematicians and computer scientists. Both his mother, Mary Lee, and father, Conway, were early computer scientists who worked on the Ferranti 1 - the world's first commercially-available, general purpose digital computer. Sir Tim studied Physics at the University of Oxford and held a series of roles developing code and building software before moving to Switzerland to work for Cern, the European Particle Physics laboratory. He developed the worldwide web code as a side project in 1989 as a global information-sharing system. After releasing the first web code in 1991, Cern made it open and free for all to use. Sir Tim now campaigns for initiatives to make sure the web remains open and accessible to all.
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
