UAE Residents Maintain Holiday Bookings Amid Iran-US Tensions, Seek Refund Clarity

Despite escalating tensions in the Middle East, residents in the United Arab Emirates are largely maintaining their summer holiday bookings, with travel agents reporting no cancellations. Customers are primarily seeking clarity on refund policies should the geopolitical situation worsen.

Mir Wasim Raja, manager at International Travel Services, noted that most inquiries revolve around refund procedures in case of conflict escalation. However, he confirmed that actual cancellations are not occurring. Raja explained that airlines would adhere to their refund or rebooking policies if authorities impose travel restrictions or close airspace. Travelers canceling independently due to concerns would be subject to their ticket's fare conditions for refunds.

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People are asking about the refund procedure if the situation worsens, but we are not seeing cancellations.

Ahmed Salah, an Egyptian lawyer residing in Sharjah, plans to travel to Cairo and his hometown of Alexandria with his family on July 18. He stated that renewed US-Iran tensions have not altered their plans, as they expect authorities and airlines to implement necessary safety measures, similar to previous escalations where UAE residents remained safe.

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We are following the latest updates regularly, but we haven't thought about cancelling our trip.

Naushad Karkala, a mobile phone trader in Dubai, will also proceed with his family's travel plans to Mangaluru, India. While he will join them later in August, he expressed no significant worry prompting cancellation. "We hope the conflict ends soon so everyone can live peacefully. For now, we are continuing with our plans while keeping an eye on any updates," he said.

The conflict intensified after recent US strikes on Iran, aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded with broader regional actions, including attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. While the UAE activated a missile alert, it confirmed the threats were external and the country's security remained stable. Despite these events, some residents are still making new holiday bookings.

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We are not worried enough to cancel our trip. We hope the conflict ends soon so everyone can live peacefully. For now, we are continuing with our plans while keeping an eye on any updates.