Travel
Briefing: How Trump’s war on Iran stranded a million fliers — and plunged the Gulf’s favorite playground into chaos
Strategic angle: A sudden escalation in tensions has left travelers in limbo and disrupted the region's tourism.
editorial-staff
1 min read
Updated about 1 month ago
On February 28, 2026, drone attacks occurred just before the boarding of flights from Dubai to Colombo, leading to widespread cancellations.
The immediate effect has been the stranding of over a million passengers, highlighting vulnerabilities in air travel security and operational resilience.
This disruption poses significant challenges to the Gulf region's tourism sector, which relies heavily on consistent air traffic and visitor flow.