Cruise Ship With Armenian Passengers Trapped in Dubai After Iranian Strikes

A cruise ship carrying around 7,000 passengers, including Armenian citizens, has been unable to leave the port of Dubai after Iran carried out strikes on infrastructure in the city. Among those on board are Armenians who were planning to return home to Yerevan in the coming days.

Journalist Nata Harutyunyan and her friend were preparing to begin their cruise on February 28. However, shortly before departure, Iran launched strikes that affected infrastructure in Dubai. Soon after, the ship’s captain informed passengers that the vessel would not depart. The approximately 7,000 people on board were told not to leave the ship or the port area. According to the captain, the ship was the safest place for everyone to remain.

Nata Harutyunyan told The Armenian Report that the cruise was originally scheduled to continue until the 7th of the month. However, passengers were later informed that the cruise had been canceled. They were told they might remain on the ship until the 7th, but what will happen after that date is still unclear. The captain has continued to stay in contact with passengers, repeating that the ship is currently the safest location and urging them not to leave. Even those who step outside are instructed not to go beyond the port area.

Armenian citizens on board have already contacted the Armenian embassy and provided their personal information. They have also filled in their details on the rapid response platform of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry. Many of them say they want to return home as soon as possible. However, flights in the region have been suspended, making travel plans uncertain.

The situation in Dubai is part of a larger regional crisis. Over the weekend, joint strikes by the United States and Israel targeted Iran, leading to a new outbreak of war in the region and the reported death of Iran’s supreme leader. In response, Iran launched large numbers of ballistic missiles and drones across the Persian Gulf.

Iran targeted sites not only in Israel but also in several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. As a result of the attacks, many flights across the region were grounded. This happened even though these countries did not officially coordinate with the United States or Israel in the initial military operations.

Analysts say Iran’s actions appear to be aimed at creating early and serious pressure on its neighbors and on regional stability. Despite being a large and militarily strong country, Iran does not have close ties with most of the Gulf states. In many cases, it is seen as a rival, and in some cases as an adversary.

For more than a decade, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been involved in a proxy conflict over Yemen. Iran also claimed historical ownership over Bahrain as recently as December last year. Other Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, have tried to maintain more balanced relations with Iran. They have kept diplomatic channels open and have sometimes offered to mediate disputes within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Despite long-standing tensions, Iran has never been in direct military confrontation with these Gulf states. However, the current escalation has increased fears across the region and disrupted travel and daily life.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.