British Businessman Stranded in UK Amid Escalating Middle East Conflict
A British businessman who found himself stranded in the United Kingdom during escalating conflict in the Middle East has spoken out about his desperate attempts to return to Dubai, criticizing the UK government for offering "zero help" while insisting the emirate remains safer than London despite Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting the Gulf region.
Flight Disruptions Leave Executive in Limbo
Rory McEntee, a 43-year-old Dubai-based gym executive, had traveled to the UK on February 25 to visit friends and was scheduled to fly back to Dubai on March 1 when conflict between Iran and the US and its allies intensified, triggering widespread airspace closures across the Middle East. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, McEntee described being unable to return home as flights were repeatedly disrupted.
"I am surprised to have received no help from the UK Government," McEntee said. "The UAE is helping all Brits that were stranded there when the conflict broke out, paying for their flights, hotels, food, and taxis. But there was no help provided by anyone in the UK for me, as a UAE resident, which I find strange, to be honest."
McEntee, who has been a UK taxpayer for 17 years, expressed disappointment that British Airways only offered a full refund or rebooking on the next available flight. According to reports, more than 140,000 Britons in the Middle East registered for government updates as the situation escalated, with the Foreign Office confirming approximately 7,500 people had returned to the UK from the UAE since early March.
"Still Safer Than London" Despite Regional Strikes
Despite missile and drone strikes hitting parts of the UAE, including a ballistic missile and multiple drones targeting an industrial zone in Dubai with one narrowly missing the Burj Khalifa, McEntee maintained he felt safer returning to Dubai than remaining in London.
"I think the majority of the expats would rather stay in the UAE right now than return to the UK," McEntee told the Daily Mail. "Like 90 percent of the drones have been dealt with, so there's a feeling of safety in the UAE for me. It's definitely somewhere I'd rather be right now than London and having to deal with petty crime on a daily basis."
During his week-long stay in Britain, McEntee reported witnessing "constant petty crimes," including two phone muggings in broad daylight, and described seeing "men in balaclavas whipping by you on e-bikes." He added that a female friend had asked him to walk her home from the Tube because she felt unsafe, calling it "no way to live."
Return to Dubai and Normalcy Amid Conflict
McEntee, who runs GymNation alongside other British expatriates in Dubai, has since returned to the emirate on what he described as a near-empty flight. Despite the regional conflict, he said daily life in Dubai has largely continued as normal.
"It was business as usual," the Dubai-based gym executive said, with people continuing to go to work, attend gyms, meet friends, and feel safe. He criticized sections of the UK media for exaggerating the situation, writing on LinkedIn that the coverage "simply doesn't match what I'm hearing directly from my family, friends, and colleagues in Dubai."
At one point, McEntee set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of another ticket while trying to secure a return flight to Dubai, raising £660 from supporters. He later clarified that the UAE government had covered the cost, writing on LinkedIn: "Huge thank you for those who donated to the GoFundMe page, but as the UAE government picked up the tab, refunds are on the way. Thanks for all the messages of support and glad to say I'm now safe."
Longer-Running Concerns About Crime in London
McEntee's concerns about safety in the UK are not new. Last year, GymNation launched a self-defense retreat in Dubai aimed at Londoners amid rising phone theft in the capital. The six-week program was marketed as free, provided participants could cover their own flights and accommodation, and drew around 600 sign-ups.
Explaining the initiative, McEntee said it came after four of his London-based friends had their phones stolen, prompting him to "offer Londoners an opportunity to escape" and "provide a fresh solution to restoring Londoners' confidence." He added that self-defense was about "empowerment and giving people more confidence," as participants spoke of growing anxiety and said they no longer felt safe walking alone at night.
The campaign gained traction online and was promoted across boroughs including Southwark and Hackney, tapping into wider concerns about what organizers described as a worsening "phone theft epidemic." McEntee emphasized that his move to Dubai with his wife when they had a baby was driven by realizing the UK wasn't the place he wanted to bring up a child, seeking better quality of life, sunshine, career opportunities, and tax benefits.
