Bollywood actress Esha Gupta has returned safely to India after being stranded in Abu Dhabi due to travel disruptions triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East following a major military confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Posting on her Instagram, Esha thanked everyone for their prayers and support and shared vivid details of the unsettling experience she and other travellers faced while stuck in the UAE.
Esha wrote that her ordeal began on February 28 when Abu Dhabi International Airport abruptly closed as the conflict intensified, leaving thousands of passengers uncertain about their travel plans. Esha began her note with these words: "Back home. Thank you all for your prayers and wishes. It was very tough to be in the situation we all faced. Truly God's blessing to be safe!
"It started when I was at the airport on the 28th (Saturday). By 1 p.m., the airport was closed, chaos all around as none of us knew what had happened. Then the news started coming of the missile attack, and no one knew what the next minute held for us. Strangers consoling each other, all calling their families back home."
;
Despite the anxiety, Gupta praised the UAE authorities for managing the situation efficiently and calmly. She detailed how airport personnel and security swiftly organised food, accommodation and transport to hotels for stranded passengers, ensuring families remained together and looked after during the disruption. She said that the UAE government’s proactive response helped maintain order and created “no scene” of panic even in tense moments.
"The ground staff and airport security immediately sprang into action and stayed calm throughout, even though we were all in this situation together. I hadn't checked in myself by then, so I took a turn and left for my hotel in Abu Dhabi."
Esha shared stories she heard from people she met at the hotel later.
"First, they gave all the passengers cash for food at the airport.
Throughout her message, Gupta acknowledged the fear felt by many as alerts from the UAE’s Ministry of Interior urged people to seek shelter, but she emphasised that those around her remained composed and supportive of one another. “It was very tough to be in the situation we all faced. Truly God’s blessing to be safe!” she wrote, underscoring the emotional weight of the experience.
“Of course, everyone had to wait to get their luggage and for the authorities to sort things out. But after a few hours, each and every passenger had to form a queue, and they were all given accommodation at available hotels in Abu Dhabi.”
"By 9 p.m. that night, they had buses ready for transfers to different hotels across the city and island. The government, before it hit the media, had ordered all the hotels to provide stay and food for the stranded passengers. Again, this didn't mean they had strangers stuck in rooms; they made sure only families or friends were together."
She also expressed gratitude to the Indian and UAE governments for their efforts in ensuring the safe return of citizens during the crisis.
"We all were getting notification alerts on our phones from the UAE's Ministry of Interior (MOI) to seek shelter. We also received reassurance alerts when the situation seemed calm.”
"The hotel management I saw—in the same clothes as the night before—were still working, still active, taking care of everything, answering questions they were unaware of as well, to the best of their ability. The delivery personnel (Careem) were still out there delivering.”
"There was no shortage of any service anywhere. The lobby was full of people, including us, due to the security alert—scared, but no chaos. The hotel security kept reassuring everyone.”
"Not once did we see the people, all scared internally, create stress; we were all in this together," Esha added.
Also read: Mandana Karimi calls the Iranian regime a ‘cancerous cell’ amid the Middle East conflict
"All this shows just the backbone of a country and its strength—they took action when needed, no blaming anyone, just strong decisions. Thank you to everyone who helped and is helping people of the world get back home. Your country is truly special," Esha wrote.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
