My Dubai flight chaos as Iran-Israel conflict causes travel headache across Europe

The English Channel sparkled under the searing summer sunshine as I flew back towards Dubai after a short trip to the UK to see my family. The goodbyes were over; my work brain was switching back on. A simple trip that many ex-pats will be familiar with across the UAE. In and out. No problems. The travel infrastructure in the UAE makes such journeys a breeze... right?

Catching up with international news on board the small plane that was speedily getting me to my connection in Amsterdam, I scoffed at the concerns of holidaymakers who are said to be changing their plans due to the Middle East situation. Flights were leaving on time (with diversions in place), and life was carrying on regardless. I was looking forward to Dubai's warm embrace.

Jump forwards 35 hours and to me collapsed on the back seat of a DBX taxi after two days of cancellations, confusion and chaos. I'd spent a day and night in Amsterdam (I won't go into the horrors of the airport hotel), had an unplanned flight to Germany, sprinted through Frankfurt airport in Germany to get a different UAE-bound flight and I'd walked miles around security, passport control and check in desks.

My very friendly driver had a philosophical approach after seeing my exhausted face and creased clothes: "Hey, it's an adventure. You made it back and you're safe, what else matters?"

It was at that point that I allowed myself to stop and think about my journey compared to the problems faced by the civilians caught up in the Iran-Israel conflict. I'm sure many would take a safe, comfortable room away from missiles right now - and without my pathetic moans about the breakfast buffet.

The reason given by KLM for the cancellation, which suddenly occurred as I queued up with passport in hand to board the flight, was 'unsafe airspace' that had closed the flight paths from Europe over Iran.

No-one wants to be flying across the country when the warheads are let loose, so it's understandable that airlines and airports are being extra cautious as to not put their staff or passengers in danger. I just could have done with a bit more notice.

A quick look at Flight Radar shows the travel ban in place over large swathes of the Middle East. Iran and Iraq are big countries. Iran's airspace has been regularly used as a corridor for European flights but now that same airspace is clear, apart from the deadly projectiles. This is causing a bottleneck in the skies over the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt as European flights are diverted around the warzone.

Looking at the arrivals and departures for Dubai International Airport, there are delays and cancellations. My inspirational taxi driver also said he's seeing a downturn in passengers as the uncertainty causes people's plans to change.

However, I was particularly unlucky with my flight as it was one of only a few to be fully stopped.

The uncertainty of what happens next is definitely causing issues with planning, logistics and safety concerns.

While it's impossible to guess and wrong to assume what will happen between Israel and Iran, it seems logical that nothing will be resolved in the short term to a point where the airspace will be cleared.

With travel set to increase over the coming weeks, more disruption is likely as the skies around one of the world's busiest airport hubs is challenging for those planning and managing the hundreds of flights that pass through each day. Dubai has plans in place to keep everyone safe and I have full confidence that they're doing everything they can to keep passengers moving.