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Dubai-based business owner Nicky Lazou was working in London when the Middle East crisis broke out.
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Her five-year-old son was with his nanny when a strike broke out in parts of Dubai.
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She spent $2,500 to fly to Oman and then crossed the land border to the United Arab Emirates to reunite with her son.
The well-known article was based on a conversation with 39-year-old Nicky Lazou. Nikki Raju is a beauty business owner in Dubai and a single mother of a 5-year-old son. It has been edited for length and clarity.
On Friday I traveled from Dubai to London for my temporary business, leaving my five-year-old son with our live-in nanny. Then the crisis in the Middle East broke out, my return flight was cancelled, and I rushed back to the UAE.
I moved from the UK and have been living in Dubai since 2022. I run a hair and beauty business in UAE and UK. I’m a single mother and raising my son in Dubai feels right and safe – and for me, it’s easy to get nanny care while running a business.
I’m heading to London on Friday for a pop-up event. My original flight back was at 10pm on Sunday, after work.
I don’t like being away from my son for too long. My nervous system is always on edge when I’m away from him. When I heard about the crisis in the Middle East, I thought, “Please don’t shut down flights,” but they did it anyway.
While I was outside the UAE, I received notifications on my local phone telling residents to stay away from windows.
I live in an apartment with lots of glass and windows, and in my mind I can picture my little boy lying on his bed near the window. Returning home is not a preference; it is a responsibility.
My first thought was that I had to get back to him no matter what.
Fly to Oman and enter the UAE overland
My travel agent recommended passing through Saudi Arabia or driving from Oman.
I went to London Heathrow and boarded an Oman Air flight. The one-way flight lasts eight hours and costs £1,300 (approximately $1,730).
From Muscat Airport, my agent found me a very friendly driver who took me to the border in less than 4 hours for about $430. The journey was smooth, there was no traffic jam, and the mountain scenery we saw on the way from the airport to the border was so beautiful and peaceful.
Then, from the UAE border to my home, I had a taxi driver I had worked with pick me up. The two-hour trip cost me about $250.
It was a relief to be back with my family. In addition to my son, I have a nine-year-old Pomeranian at home who has been in my life for a long time. I also care deeply about my nanny; I won’t leave her behind.
I was shocked because I never thought I would experience something like this in Dubai. Last night we could hear the planes at 5am and my son and I jumped out of bed and grabbed him because I could hear the noise.
But I have very strong beliefs and think the government is doing a very good job of protecting us. I feel safe here.
Do you have a story to share about returning to the Middle East? Contact our reporter abharade@businessinsider.com.
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