The couple from Sweden landed in Dubai on Saturday night, just before the attacks began and the airspace was closed. They are now at their hotel, where guests are advised to stay indoors.
"There is a lot of concern, of course. This was not really what we had in mind," says the man, who does not want his name published.
"Then the next question is how we're going to get home. All the airports are closed, there's nowhere to go," he adds.
Shooting down drones
He says it was initially difficult to get a handle on what was happening.
We saw on the news when we woke up that something had happened in Iran. We also heard some banging in the morning, but they are doing a lot of construction here, so we didn't think much of it.
During the day, they followed developments via mobile phone, and when more explosions were heard at three o'clock, they went into the hotel and stayed there.
We saw last night from the hotel that they were shooting down drones and missiles. A drone hit another hotel five to six hundred meters from us.
You mostly hear bangs. It's hard to see everything that's happening. But you could see things falling from the sky, like flames.
Had to sleep in the basement
Sometime after midnight, when the couple had just fallen asleep, all the phones rang and an alarm went off inside the hotel. Guests were then forced to leave their rooms and evacuate to the basement of the parking garage.
At three or four o'clock, the hotel decided we could return to our rooms. But we and some others slept on mattresses or duvets, pillows and towels on the floor in the basement. It felt safest.
The couple's return trip is booked for Friday, and they don't think they will be able to get an earlier flight ticket.
Even if air traffic starts, there will be chaos at the airports. It feels like the least bad option is to stay at the hotel.
The couple has been in contact with their travel company, who have not been able to provide them with any further information.
We have also contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by telephone, but we have not received any response, so it seems difficult.
TT has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
