British nationals are among the hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded in Gulf Arab states, as major airports, including Dubai, remained closed following retaliatory strikes from Iran.

Iran fired missiles at its Gulf neighbours after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on major cities, including the capital, Tehran, on Saturday.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was later confirmed to have died in the assault.

Flights to and from countries in the Middle East are to remain suspended until Monday as the conflict in the region continues, major airlines have said.

Dubai is a popular holiday destination for Brits, and there are thousands of British expats in the UAE.

British holidaymakers who were locked down in their hotels told ITV News that the situation was “terrifying”.

Kirsty Greyling is on holiday in Dubai with her toddler and said the “vibe was quite fraught” in the city.

She had been sitting in a restaurant opposite Dubai’s famous Fairmont The Palm Hotel when it was hit following retaliatory strikes by Iran.

They slept in the basement of their hotel overnight and are now waiting to find out when they can be rebooked on a flight home.

“The vibe is fraught but we do feel safe inside the hotel,” she told ITV News.

“We can’t go outside the hotel… you can hear the odd missile in the background.”

Kirsty Greyling is on holiday in Dubai and described the moment the Fairmont The Palm Hotel was hit following strikes

Officials at the Foreign Office are understood to be working on planes for potential evacuation routes should airspace in the Gulf remain closed.

British nationals are currently being advised to stay where they are and follow the instructions of local authorities and monitor the Foreign Office’s travel advice, which officials expect to change rapidly.

Those in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE have been urged to register their presence with the Foreign Office online.

More than 94,000 people have already registered their presence, a scheme the Government has used before to provide urgent updates to people affected by international crises.

Firemen and rescue workers inspect the site of an explosion at the Fairmont The Palm Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Credit: AP

In a statement published on X on Sunday morning, Emirates airline said: “Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 3pm UAE time on Monday March 2.”

The airline has advised passengers booked to travel before or on March 5 to rebook on an alternate flight, or request a refund.

Etihad Airways advised passengers that while airspace closures continue, disruption is to be expected.

“Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad’s operations, and all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 2am UAE time on Monday March 2,” the airline said on X.

Etihad said passengers should check their flight status on its website before travelling to the airport and ensure their contact details are up to date in their booking.

People holding Etihad tickets for travel on dates up to March 3 can also request a full refund, the airline added.

Qatar Airways said on Saturday night that flights remained temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

Virgin Atlantic said on Sunday morning it is continuing to avoid Iraqi airspace, resulting in some pre-planned rerouting of flights between London Heathrow and the region.

There are still 83 flights scheduled to operate between the UK and the Middle East on Sunday, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

The Foreign Office has advised British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar and United Arab Emirates to register their presence with the UK Government to receive updates on the situation in the Middle East.

In a statement published on X on Saturday night, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar and United Arab Emirates can register their presence to receive direct updates from the FCDO on the situation in the Middle East.

“You should continue to follow travel advice and the advice of the local authorities.”

Four people were injured at Dubai International Airport, the largest in the United Arab Emirates and one of the busiest in the world, on Saturday after what the UAE government called a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles.

While Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi said that one person was killed and seven others were injured in a drone strike. Strikes were also reported at Kuwait International Airport.

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