Okay. 30 thousand German tourists are stranded in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region as a result of the war with Iran, the German Tourist Association estimates, referring to tourists traveling with German tour operators who are either staying locally or have booked connections through airports in the region.
One of the people is 32-year-old Madeleine Neumann from Frankfurt. After a two-and-a-half-week vacation in Sri Lanka, she and her parents were scheduled to spend the night in Dubai on Friday and fly back to Frankfurt on Saturday afternoon.
— In the afternoon, approx. 1:00 p.m., we went to the airport. There was a very long queue at passport control and you couldn't move from your seat. The airport employee told me that the airspace was closed and that I should read the news – Neumann tells “Die Welt”. Her flight was first postponed until the evening and then canceled completely.
The airport was evacuated in a very organized manner, so she didn't feel panic at first. — When it became clear that the airspace was closed, I immediately booked a hotel in Deira, a district of Dubai. The afternoon went quite normally and I even hoped that maybe we would be able to return home on Sunday, says the German woman.
Okay. time. At 0.30 her cell phone started sending alerts due to rockets. — The situation was very emotionally stressful: people were crying and I clearly felt fear around me – he says. She and her parents had to go to a room without windows, a kind of event hall. Water and coffee were waiting for them there. After about two hours, they were finally able to return to their rooms.
A cargo ship off the coast of Dubai, March 2, 2026.Giuseppe Cacace / AFP
Emergency plan
— Since then, I have always had a packed bag with me with the most important documents, a mobile phone, a power bank, money and a passport, so that I am ready to go to the shelter at any time, says Neumann. On Sunday morning, they heard anti-drone jets followed by a loud boom and then visible fire. “It was a very unpleasant feeling,” the woman adds.
As he emphasizes, the situation is emotionally “very difficult” and “straining”. — My thoughts revolve around survival. This is a completely new situation for me. The uncertainty of whether and when we will return home torments me greatly. I feel like I function like a robot, I'm constantly checking where the nearest emergency exit or shelter is, admits Neumann.
She and her parents are not leaving the hotel at this time. Instead, they constantly follow German and international news to stay up to date. — I don't rely on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Currently, I hope that the airspace will be opened and we will be able to at least fly to an EU country, says the German. From there she could organize her own further journey.
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“Our emergency plan is to take a bus to Muscat, Oman, and then fly from there,” Neumann says.
Save the tourists
On Monday afternoon, Germany's federal government announced it was preparing flights to Muscat, Oman, and the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to bring German tourists home. Particular attention is paid to vulnerable groups such as children, sick people or pregnant women.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul ruled out a military evacuation. “We won't be able to do it because the airspace is completely closed,” he told Bild.
Also on Sunday, Wadephul in a television program appealed to travelers to be responsible. “It wasn't like there wasn't any indication that the situation could become dangerous” – he said. No one knew that the situation would escalate to this extent, but it was to be expected. “We all need to prepare for the possibility that this conflict will last longer. It is impossible to predict that the fighting will end in the next few days.”
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
