Romanians stuck in the countries of the Middle East that closed the airspace following the attack on Iran by the US and Israel are living nightmare days. A Romanian who cannot leave the United Arab Emirates reported that he had to look for accommodation on his own. He does not know when he will be able to leave, at what cost or with what.
War in Iran reverberates throughout the Middle East PHOTO Atta Kenare AFP via Getty Images jpg
The war started in Iran trapped hundreds of Romanians in other countries in the Middle East that closed or temporarily suspended their airspace. Several hundred are in the United Arab Emirates, according to Foreign Ministry officials. I don't know when they will be able to leave the country where, for two days, alerts are the norm.
Vlad Jipa is in the Emirates with his wife and child, and on Saturday, February 28, 2026, he should have boarded the plane home. At the airport in Abu Dhabi, he found out, along with hundreds of other people, that he was not leaving.
“Yesterday was terrible. From the moment I entered the airport the panic started. I could see fighter jets everywhere, there were bangs, people were crying – not one or two people, dozens of people, women and children, were crying. No one knew anything, the consulate did not communicate anything to us. Only after 2-3 hours did they communicate some general things that we already knew from everywhere – from the press, from other people”, the Romanian reported.
It was clear to everyone that no more planes were taking off and that they had to look for accommodation again. They started the process on their own. Prices have gone up, the extension of the stay being also from a financial point of view a major stress for many.
“What's that crisis cell doing?”
They received a message from the authorities according to which they will benefit from support in order to extend their stay, but things are nowhere near according to this announcement, says the Romanian.
“Considering the events in the area that started yesterday followed by the measure of the temporary closure of the airspace in the United Arab Emirates and in the Arabian Gulf area, the Emirati authorities have informed that in collaboration with the airlines and travel agencies, for the people whose flights have been canceled, starting from the original check-out date, they will benefit from support in order to extend their stay until they can leave safely, with an operational air flight. We encourage you to talk in good time with the management of the hotels where you are staying and to have proof of the original flight cancellation ready”was relayed to stranded tourists in Abu Dhabi.
Romanians waited in vain at the airport on Saturday to be able to leave PHOTO Source: Vlad Jipa
“We, together with other Romanians, tried to talk at hotels. The hotels say that they are not part of this campaign, so to speak. We call the Emirati authorities, they tell us to speak directly to the hotels. Our consulate does not do any due diligence, negotiate on our behalf, fix one, two, three hotels and talk directly at the consulate level so that we are not new victims for sure. (…) Otherwise they discuss with the consulate, the embassy, with hotels, otherwise they raise the problem, otherwise they say what they sent us. I don't understand why they make us do this. Or put us after they have established some principles, some bridges between us and the respective hotels, between us and the authorities here. Because they show very well on TV or where they appear and say that they are closely related to us. In what sense? What is the connection? That I don't communicate with anyone. From time to time, the consulate number also sends some pictures that I have before they send them. That they give us support, that there is a lot of attention, that it is a crisis cell. What does that crisis cell do? “Vlad Jipa pointed out.
“We're looking at the prices. A ticket for Tuesday, if it's going to be Tuesday, is 1,500 euros per person”
The Romanian admits that at first, if he had been able to leave, everyone would have thought how safe the flight was, given the alerts. On Sunday the problem became when a plane might happen to take off to take them home and, not to mention, what the price of the tickets would be.
“We look at the ticket price. A ticket, on eSky, for Tuesday, if it will be Tuesday, is 1,500 euros per person. That would mean 4,500 euros. There will be a fight in places, no one tells us anything. That's what the consulate should do. To prioritize us, to make some lists, to communicate to us the stage in which we are, from the point of view of security in the first place and in the second place of repatriation. It's incredible,” added Vlad Jipa.
Things were quieter in Abu Dhabi on Sunday than the previous day, although the warnings continued to come. “There were some alarms, some more planes, drones, and some bangs. Today was quieter but that doesn't mean anything, because we can't move from here”the Romanian also specified.
The fact that I'm not “fallen blocks everywhere” but it does not give them security. “For example, last night we found out that Abu Dhabi airport was hit by a drone. I was just there two hours ago. Isn't it serious enough? (…) Think about what is in our souls, because we are going through these moments. Somehow, in one form or another, we will have to wait, of course, that no one will open the airspace for us, Romanian citizens, but what do we do when we leave? Will we allow ourselves to leave from a financial point of view? Will we get seats? Will someone assure us, will someone at least force the companies in Romania to send a plane at a reasonable price, as we bought the tickets at a certain price?” the Romanian tourist also pointed out.
The problem of accommodation is a real one, the Romanian also said, managing to book one day of accommodation plus two more, at two different hotels. I don't know how much longer they will have in office, the information in the press talks about an amplification of the events, and the communication with the Romanian authorities is nowhere near what the tourists want.
Warnings are frequent Source: Vlad Jipa
“We are alone here. We are on our own, you know. No matter what they say. Don't expect us to be sitting next to collapsed buildings, but every now and then a missile or a drone passes by, let's hear that a kilometer away, two a bomb went off God forbid, it's… I never thought we'd be put in this situation. And even more so to put my family in this situation. I'm really disappointed with the authorities that manage this situation, the authorities in our country, because we are their responsibility”the Romanian also said.
