Expats anxiously await return of loved ones stuck in war zones

For Iranian expat HM, the past week in her Dubai home has been a nightmare. Her parents, who were supposed to return after a short trip to their hometown of Shiraz, have been stuck there since the start of the conflict between Iran and Israel.

- Nasreen Abdulla

"I am worried," she told Khaleej Times. "My parents were supposed to return this week, but flights have been suspended. Thankfully, they're safe and so far, everything is calm in their area."

She said she checks with her parents daily. "Although parts of Tehran have been hit, daily life in many other cities, like Shiraz, seems to be continuing with caution but without chaos," she said. "Internet connectivity has taken a hit in some regions, making it harder to get real-time updates. Many are relying on phone calls or VPNs to stay in touch with the outside world."

HM is one of the many UAE expats who are worried about their families in war zones as the region has seen an escalation of conflict.