Top News

That decision backfired when Iran launched missile and drone strikes against the UAE in retaliation for attacks by the U.S. and Israel, leaving him stranded.

Lim and his father had been on a layover in Dubai on Feb. 27. His father caught an early morning flight home, while Lim waited for a 9 p.m. departure. “This may be a decision I might live to regret,” he told The Straits Times.

He was at a cafe with friends when the attacks began. “We heard loud booms between five and six explosions. The people around us were pointing to the plumes of smoke in the sky. Since Dubai is a relatively safe environment, I did not feel scared.

“It was only when the alarms went off on our mobile phones that I began to realise it was serious,” he said.

On Feb. 28, following the Iranian strikes, major airports, including Dubai’s, were shut down. Lim went to the airport to reclaim his checked-in luggage but found the terminal overcrowded.

“Emirates staff were overwhelmed because the airport terminal was really crowded. Nobody really had any information for me about my baggage or alternative arrangements,” he said, leaving after seeing that assistance was unavailable.

The airport was later damaged in an overnight attack that injured four staff members. “The debris that hit the airport was at the same terminal where I was,” Lim said.

Lim checked into the a hotel in Business Bay, about 17 km from the airport, with only his hand luggage.

“I had to wash and dry my clothes in the room and live in the bathrobe when I did not go out. The malls were quite far away, so I could not buy more clothes,” he told the Straits Times on Tuesday.

“I also call my parents and fiancée every day to keep them updated on the situation here. It is for my own and their own peace of mind,” he added.

Vanessa, a 32-year-old Singaporean in Dubai, said her husband who works as a pilot has been unable to return to Dubai since the conflict began, AsiaOne reported.

Vanessa moved to Dubai in 2023 after her husband started working for Emirates. She said he flew to China a day before the attacks and was forced to remain there until further notice.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this. In Singapore, you don’t hear of this kind of attack,” she said.

She added that she has tried to stay in contact with neighbors and friends while remaining at home. “The local government is constantly sending notifications to keep us informed and assured. I have also registered with Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai so that we receive updates and can plan to fly back home if possible,” she said.

In Saudi Arabia, daily life in Riyadh and Jeddah cities has continued as usual despite the escalating regional tensions.

Nadhir Hassan, 37, has worked as a banker in Riyadh for five years. He said he had planned to return to Singapore for the upcoming Hari Raya holidays but was held back by flight disruptions.

Singaporeans in Bahrain received a notice from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday stating that buses could be arranged to transport them to Riyadh for onward flights home, he added.

On Tuesday, the ministry issued another notice saying it was exploring the possibility of assisted departure of Singaporeans from Saudi Arabia if hostilities escalate. “For now, I remain in Riyadh, where it is safe,” Nadhir said.