Boy, 12, home after being stranded in Middle East

A 12-year-old boy who spent three nights alone in an airport due to travel restrictions caused by the US-Israel war with Iran says he is "so happy" to be home.

Ahmad, from Swindon in Wiltshire, became stranded at Dubai Airport while travelling back from Pakistan during the military activity in the Middle East.

It comes as other passengers from the UK say they have received "no information" from the Foreign Office, despite following the proper protocols.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government was "working 24/7 with airlines and regional governments to pursue extra flights and safe routes" out of the Middle East.

Ahmed was cared for by Emirates Airlines staff while he waited to be reunited with family.

His mother, Hafsa, father, Shamshed, and younger sister, Noor, eight, tearfully greeted him at the arrivals gate on Tuesday.

"When we realised he would be delayed in Dubai it was terrifying and we were looking at the news and social media to see what was going on," his mother explained.

"It was very terrible for us because he is only 12 years old and he was alone. I can't express my feelings."

Ahmed added he was "so happy" to be home following the "terrible" ordeal.

Ian Scott, from Wedmore in Somerset, has been stuck in Qatar since Saturday after his connecting flight was diverted back to the airport due to air space closures.

He had been due to fly from Melbourne in Australia to Venice in Italy, via Doha, on Saturday to meet his wife.

After his Venice-bound flight landed back in Doha, Scott spent 15 hours in the airport surrounded by explosions as missiles from Iran were intercepted.

Eventually, staff evacuated the airport and thousands of stranded passengers were transported to hotels where they have remained, awaiting news of their departure.

Although Scott registered his presence in Qatar with the FCDO, he said the British government had offered "no information" to stranded passengers.

"We have no plan, no idea how we're going to get out at the moment and we're sort of just stuck here," he added.

Salon owner Klaudia Lawrence flew out to Dubai for a holiday last week.

She was due to return home to Oldland Common near Bristol yesterday, but is stranded abroad due to the ongoing conflict.

She registered her presence the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, and was advised to follow local guidance and to contact her travel agency and airline.

"We're constantly on phones trying to find a way out," she told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It could literally be weeks - we have no idea. We don't have a flight home.

"The hardest part for me personally is knowing that I'm not in control of this situation. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring is very, very scary."

Cooper told the BBC there were an estimated 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries, where much of the air space is closed.

She said many of those stranded were holidaymakers, passengers transiting through or people on business trips.

In a statement posted on X, Cooper said: "The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority.

"Due to ongoing air strikes and safety restrictions, the situation on the ground is likely to remain challenging for some time."

She added that limited commercial flights had restarted from the United Arab Emirates and a chartered plane prioritising the "most vulnerable" passengers would also fly from Oman later.

Stranded Britons have been urged to follow local advice, keep in touch with their airlines and to register their presence in the Middle East with the UK government, as Iranian strikes continue across the region.

A total of 102,000 Britons have registered so far, according to the government.

Johnny Whittaker, from Bristol, was due to fly out of Dubai for a holiday on Saturday but his flight was cancelled due to restrictions.

Although he has seen fewer missiles above the city compared to the weekend, Whittaker said he still felt worried and would return to the UK if he could.

"My concern is at the moment it doesn't seem that bad, but you don't know how long these things are going to last," he said.

Whittaker said he had registered his presence in Dubai with the UK government, but had only received one email advising him to "stay safe" and "stay inside".

The FCDO advised travellers planning to head to the Middle East to check its website for travel advice relating to their destination.

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