Is Dubai a bad idea right now? Worried flights get disrupted and I’m stuck

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dhardyuk@reddit

I grew up in the UAE in the 70’s.

I just do not see the attraction at all for tourists.

Sand too hot to touch, road surfaces scorching through flip flops, the only relief was getting into somewhere air conditioned.

Literally everything is irrigated to make it survive. Grass, bushes, flowers etc.

When I was growing up it was a man manually irrigating with a hose. All day, every day. Now I guess it’s all sprinklers and automation.

I think that some stretches of beach have refrigeration lines under the sand to make it bearable.

Go to Bali, Bintan Island, the Seychelles or Singapore, where you don’t have to be refrigerated just to make it through the day.

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New_Libran@reddit

I honestly don't see why any of what you described is a reason not to visit a country. What if it someone who has never experienced a hot, desert country and want to visit?

I watch some vlogs from the Middle East and I will definitely visit at some point especially Oman but I will love to see 3 or 4 countries in the region.

Funny you mention Singapore because I've been and it's just a tiny island full of skyscrapers and massive apartment blocks, sounds like a slightly less hot version of UAE

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WheresWalldough@reddit

I went to the Sahara Desert in Morocco in January.

Deserts don't have to be unpleasantly hot.

Mean daily maximum in Singapore is 32C in May, in Dubai 38C. The difference is significant.

Singapore is a better place to visit than Dubai - better food, actual local culture, history, better tourist attractions, local people actually work for a living.

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New_Libran@reddit

Mean daily maximum in Singapore is 32C in May, in Dubai 38C.

You're forgetting the high humidity of Singapore. I grew up in a tropical country but even I was struggling a bit in Singapore!

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WheresWalldough@reddit

Dubai also gets very humid.

https://www.reddit.com/r/dubai/comments/1ktcha2/no_its_not_you_humid_summers_in_dubai_arrives/

Comfortable* mornings are disappearing \~10 days earlier every single year.
First “oppressive” (pink) afternoons now hit around 5–7 May, not late May like back in 2021.
Night-time relief is fading – even 3 AM shows muggy blocks by late May

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New_Libran@reddit

It's one of the reasons why I love travelling, experiencing all the different climates

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TheNathanNS@reddit

As soon I saw the topic my psychic powers kicked in because I somehow knew the top comment wouldn't even bother to answer the question and instead bash Dubai instead

Weird.

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Odd-Swing-2025@reddit

Saying it's horrible at any time is true, so it's hardly bashing.

If you can find me a single good reason to visit that isn't outweighed by all the shit that goes on, like being arrested for walking home drunk, the massive slave labour issue, the racism issue, the issue of it being too hot for humans to comfortably live without ac, the grifter linkedin ceo culture, the allowance of polygyny, the rate of suicide among hired help, and the fact that the whole place is one big mall and a bunch of fake islands, let me know.

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

Absolutely ❤️

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grae3333@reddit

This is the answer

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TheNotSpecialOne@reddit

I've just flown back via Dubai, my flight got moved around 3 times, was a headache but I'm happy to be back. Flights are running now but their is a chance that it will get disrupted and you'll have delays and flights being moved around.

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HorrorAccomplished78@reddit

The RAF will fly you out if it blows up big.

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Soar_Fingers@reddit

Flying anywhere is risky at the moment. European aviation authorities today warned that they only have enough jet fuel to last a couple of months, so flight cancellations are inevitable, especially for passenger traffic as priority will be given to food and essential freight.

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Ethelred_Unread@reddit

Fuck Dubai, Oman is much better, cheaper and overall a much nicer destination.

Unless you heart malls above all else.

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eric-artman@reddit

You can have alot of money if you like chocolate 👍🤗

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Shot_Net3794@reddit

I've never tried Dubai chocolate but I doubt it's the good chocolate they use for it

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Impressive_Dress7244@reddit

Yes, going on holiday to somewhere next to a war zone that’s being pelted by missiles seems a great idea. What could go wrong?

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Background_Angle4277@reddit

I say this with all the love in the world, but do you live under a rock? It's not like there's anything special or interesting in Dubai at the best of times. Just go to any hot country with a resort? What was drawing you towards Dubai? I assure you somewhere else will fit the bill

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ross-dirext-words137@reddit

Just out of interest why did you want to go to Dubai for a holiday?

But no right now is a terrible idea. It's very unstable and they have been having many issues that can't be discussed without going to jail.

Unless your after the bargain hotel prices.

Even transiting through the airport unless you have no option is not the best idea.

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Alternative-Emu2000@reddit

No, it isn't safe; and it isn't likely to become any safer in the next month.

The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the UAE. If go anyway, you may well find that your travel insurance is invalid.

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Expensive_Profit_106@reddit

Dubai is terrible anytime but I definitely wouldn’t go now. Know a guy who was flying through the Middle East and his as he was in the airport they had to go shelter due to missiles flying.

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Hertfordgal@reddit

Look at the home office advice.

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SaddleworthJim@reddit

It’s a bad idea at any time!

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Embarrassed_Sky_5616@reddit

Dubai is always a bad idea.

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Professional_Bat132@reddit

Are you actually serious? Do you have no morals?

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Ok-Cheesecake-1891@reddit

Sure, fly to a state next to a war zone. A state built on modern day slavery, with some very shady aspects to it. You do you

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TheTabar@reddit

Dubai is okay. My Filipino cousins work slaves there

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Djinjja-Ninja@reddit

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates

Also, importantly:

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

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Anonymous33845@reddit (OP)

Thanks for sharing this mate - this completely changed my decision

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jonpenryn@reddit

Look on a map...no

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Natural_Bet6685@reddit

Dubai as a holiday destination is now done. Unless your trip is for business, it'll not be advisable. Things there can kick off at the drop of a hat now. Sadly it'll be like that for some time because of a couple of old men.

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WheresWalldough@reddit

Why do you want to go to Dubai?

> FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.

Also May is unpleasantly hot - last year in mid-late May temperatures reached 47 Celsius, and it's likely to exceed 40C every day.

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neukStari@reddit

Europe has a couple of weeks of jet fuel left. make of that what you will.

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Fresh_Relation_7682@reddit

I wouldn’t go to Dubai in normal times but putting aside my own prejudices:

the situation in that part of the world is volatile. It is definitely in range of Iranian missiles and the UAE and Iran are not friends. Maybe it’ll be ok. But it’s a risk
Even if you’re not at risk there is a good chance of quite difficult flight disruption.
Given the point above plus the shortages of jet fuel, airlines may cut these routes first

Why not go on holiday somewhere else?

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MrDaveHedgehog@reddit

The foreign office specifically advise against it. That may change of course but it really ain’t worth the stress and hassle of trying to get a refund of a flight that is taking off or a hotel that’s booked because of U.K. foreign office advice if it doesn’t change.

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Anonymous33845@reddit (OP)

Oh I didnt even know this, thanks for tip mate!

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Grouchy-Handle-6031@reddit

Dubai was never a good idea

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thierry_ennui_@reddit

Dubai is always a bad idea. It's the luxury-veneered facade of a regime that is doing everything it can to cover up enormous human rights abuses.

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Desperate-Drawer-572@reddit

Travel insurance wont cover you

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Sergeant_Fred_Colon@reddit

The foreign office advises against all but essential travel to the UAE.

If you do go your travel insurance will be void.

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GeggingIn@reddit

Do you desperately have to go for work?

If not, wouldn’t bother.

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Anonymous33845@reddit (OP)

Lool no it was just for a holiday

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GeggingIn@reddit

Nah, would give it a miss. Probably wouldn’t be very relaxing.

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Odd_Explanation558@reddit

Nah. It's a great idea. The more tourists that go, the more tempting a target Dubai is, the more interceptors that need to be used and therefore my defence stocks will go up more. Everybody wins!

Now of course you may die or be seriously injured but that's a risk I'm willing to take. I'm looking to get a new car and could do with the extra funds.

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CoconutBandita@reddit

There's never a good reason to go to Dubai.

That's even more the case now

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