Bengaluru Sarvam techie rues cancelled holiday after Dubai airspace closure: ‘Lost all my money'

Dubai International Airport — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — suspended operations after Iranian missile strikes triggered sweeping airspace shutdowns across the Gulf region. (AI-generated image)

A Bengaluru-based Sarvam AI engineer has been left devastated after sudden airspace shutdowns over Dubai derailed his long‑planned vacation, wiping out a year’s worth of savings and preparation. The techie, identified only as Sumanth, had booked a two‑week solo trip across Italy — Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples and Sorrento — only to learn hours before departure that his connecting flight via Dubai would not operate due to widespread Middle East airspace closures.

“One vacation is all I wanted. ONE… Now they closed down the airport,” he wrote on X. Sumanth had spent the past week finalising bookings. "I spent the last one week making bookings, after a year of working on the models, I thought this was my time for a vacation. Starting tomorrow, I was gonna go on a 2-week solo trip in Italy, starting from Milan -> Bologna -> Florence -> Rome -> Naples -> Sorrento. Now, I'm sad and in Bengaluru," he wrote, adding that his flight was via Dubai.

When an X user suggested he go for a holiday elsewhere, Sumanth said, "I have lost all my money, have nothing left to book another holiday."

On the brighter side, he added with resignation, “I guess I'm alive.”

send me your regards https://t.co/Q3fuhX5FKhpic.twitter.com/HCT2RpsEBV

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— Sumanth (@sumanthd17) February 28, 2026

Dubai airspace closed, airlines across Europe, Asia, Middle East forced to reroute

Regional tensions escalated after US–Israeli military operations against Iran prompted retaliatory strikes, leading the UAE to implement a temporary partial closure of its airspace as a precautionary measure. Authorities halted all arrivals and departures at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Dubai International Airport — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — suspended operations after Iranian missile strikes triggered sweeping airspace shutdowns across the Gulf region.

With Gulf airspace closed or partially inaccessible, airlines across Europe, the Middle East and Asia have been forced to cancel or reroute flights, stranding thousands and adding hours to global travel times.

Data from aviation analytics firms cited by Moneycontrol shows that the shutdown has forced Indian passengers into a bidding war for limited non‑stop flights, with fares to Europe and North America more than doubling overnight.