German holidaymakers stuck as Gulf region becomes a war zone

The conflict between Israel, the United States and Iran has left many travellers stranded in the Middle East and other regions of the world. 

"It's sheer chaos at Dubai International Airport," the Bild newspaper quoted a German holidaymaker as saying. "Thousands of people are trying to leave the terminal. There are no exits, the trains between the terminals are broken. There are no announcements, no staff."

According to the Flightradar24 platform, more than 3,400 flights were cancelled at seven major airports in the Middle East region - in addition to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha were also affected.

The German airline Lufthansa has cancelled its flights to and from Dubai. Connections to Oman, Beirut and Tel Aviv have also been cancelled until at least March 7.

Cruises are also affected, with the MSC Euribia of the Swiss shipping company MSC Cruises, with a capacity for more than 6,000 passengers, reportedly stranded in Dubai. 

The cruise ships Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 from the German TUI Cruises, with a total capacity for more than 5,000 travellers, are stranded. 

Holidaymakers in other regions of the world who were booked on some Arab airlines were also unable to travel on the weekend. In Sydney, for example, flights operated by Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi were cancelled.

"There were long queues at the airport and no information," reported a German traveller in Sydney. "Then the flights were cancelled." 

Germany's Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for more than a dozen countries in the region between Lebanon and Oman.