Vicky Pattison has started a long journey back to the UK after becoming stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing Iranian missile strikes.
Late last month, Iran began targeting neighbouring countries, including the United Arab Emirates, after the United States launched a ‘major combat operation’ to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities, whilst also killing its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Since then, the UAE’s airspace has also been temporarily closed, leaving many visitors to the region trapped and looking for alternative ways home.
One of those stranded was former Geordie Shore star Vicky, 38, who had been spending a few days in Dubai with her husband Ercan Ramadan before they planned to travel to Australia.
But after their flight was cancelled over a week ago, the couple then decided to make alternative plans to get back to the UK, which involved driving 11 hours to Oman.
Sharing a post on social media, updating her followers on how they’d managed to get out of Dubai, Vicky began by apologising for her ‘radio silence’ over the past week.
‘With everything unfolding the way it was and changing so rapidly we desperately didn’t want to say anything insensitive or hyperbolic that would add to the rising panic around the situation. We really appreciate all your messages of concern and just wanted to reassure everyone that we’re fine,’ she began.
‘After 3 cancelled flights and the realisation that we definitely weren’t going to make it on to Australia and New Zealand we wanted to try and get home as quickly and safely as possible. I understand that there are a lot of people still in Dubai feeling really calm and safe however, we wanted to be back to our babies, work and normality and we felt like Oman was our best option.’
Vicky then went on to explain that she and her husband, along with some friends, had used a private transfer to travel to Oman.
‘All in all, the journey took us around 11 hours, including around 2-3 hours at the border crossing, checking documents and passports and cost about £130pp. For anyone stuck in Dubai and wanting to get home via Oman, I will put more information on @vickysvacays…’ she continued.
‘I just don’t want to overwhelm or bore anyone on here. We are going to try and enjoy our last days away and explore Oman hopefully.’
Reflecting on the past week, Vicky said it had been quite ‘unsettling’ and she understood that there were people still feeling ‘unsafe and uncertain’. ‘We have experienced moments like that but ultimately feel like it’s important we acknowledge our position of privilege,’ she shared.
‘We are extremely grateful to be making our way home and are thinking of anyone feeling fearful or unsettled, anywhere in a world that is rapidly becoming an increasingly scary place to be.’
Wrapping up her post, Vicky tagged and thanked their accommodation and the UAE government for ‘keeping us safe, calm and informed where possible’, adding that she was looking forward to arriving home in a few days and would keep her followers updated.
Alongside the post, Vicky shared a series of photos of the journey, including a selfie on the coach with her husband and some of their friends.
When initially sharing an update on what was unfolding in Dubai, Vicky said they had been left stuck in Dubai after their flight was cancelled but had been assured they were safe.
‘We are aware that the situation unfolding is scary and I’m also aware there’s lots of videos circulating on social media which are understandably concerning,’ she wrote.
‘I’m not sure what else to say, other than we are doing our best to stay calm, not feed any unconfirmed narratives and we’re thinking of everyone who is feeling unsettled and unsafe right now.’
A few days later, she went on to say they’d been trying to ‘stay hopeful and measured’.
‘Ultimately, we are in one of the safest countries in the world, in a 5-star hotel and we don’t want to add to the rising panic and chaos by stating anything other than rational fact or at the very least what we have been advised is true,’ she wrote.
‘And we’re being incredibly mindful of our privilege in this situation. There are many people in world right now in far more dangerous and heartbreaking circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers, as yours should be, are with anyone feeling unsettled and unsafe as the world sadly becomes an increasingly fractious and hostile one.’
Brits continue to remain stranded throughout the Middle East, with more than 100,000 having registered their presence with the Foreign Office amid evacuation planning.
Large areas of airspace over the region remain closed because of the fighting.
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