Manya Singh describes a scary ordeal as she’s stranded in Dubai amid missile strikes and flight suspensions

Manya Singh describes a scary ordeal as she’s stranded in Dubai amid missile strikes and flight suspensions

• Manya Singh stuck in Dubai due to flight suspensions amid tensions
• She witnessed explosions and missile debris near her hotel
• UAE aiding stranded passengers, no flight updates yet

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Former Bigg Boss contestant and Miss India 2020 runner-up Manya Singh has shared a frightening account of her experience in Dubai, where she currently remains stranded after her return flight was suspended amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Manya, who had travelled to the UAE to attend a college conference as a keynote speaker, described the situation in the city as “extremely tense,” revealing that she has heard explosions and seen signs of missiles in the sky as connectivity and normal life are disrupted.

Manya had planned to fly back to India from Abu Dhabi on February 28, but her scheduled return flight was cancelled after increased military activity across the Gulf region led to multiple airlines suspending operations and major airports, including Dubai International Airport, shutting down temporarily for safety reasons.

In an interview with ETimes, she revealed, “On Saturday, when I was at the Dubai airport, I saw explosions around the area and missiles flying. It was a frightening moment. Even now, I can hear explosions. Roads are shut, and there is hardly any movement outside. I am alone and scared, but I cannot afford to panic because that will only make things worse.”

“About half an hour later, we heard that the hotel had been attacked (reportedly hit by debris from a missile intercepted by the UAE's defences). It's right opposite CIEL Dubai Marina, where I'm currently staying.”

She added, “Mine was the first flight to be suspended, and there's been no update since. My international network isn't working, so I'm relying entirely on Wi-Fi. I texted the embassy on several numbers on WhatsApp, and they shared a manual process, but without mobile network access, I couldn't complete it. Thankfully, the UAE authorities are taking care of stranded passengers, and Etihad has assured us they'll inform us about the next available flight.”

The disruption comes after retaliatory missile and drone strikes attributed to Iran targeted several Gulf nations — including the UAE — following joint US and Israeli operations against Iranian targets.

Defence forces in the UAE have reportedly intercepted many of these threats, but the situation has nonetheless created an environment of fear and caution, as evidenced by reports of explosions and alarm among people stuck in the region.

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Indian travellers — including athletes, entertainers and ordinary citizens — have publicly shared their experiences from Dubai amid the unrest, with many describing “tense and scary” moments due to missile interceptions and loud detonations over the city’s skies. In some cases, Indian nationals are awaiting assistance from their government and embassy to facilitate safe return plans once air travel resumes.