British Businessman Charters £150,000 Private Jet to Flee Dubai Amid Middle East Conflict
A British property investor has revealed he paid a staggering £150,000 to charter a private jet from Dubai back to England, after debris from an Iranian military drone fell onto his luxury seven-bedroom villa. Samuel Leeds, originally from Buckinghamshire, described the incident as "unnerving" but insisted his departure was not motivated by fear of the ongoing US-Iran war.
Drone Debris Incident at Palm Jumeirah Villa
Mr Leeds was at his beachfront property on Palm Jumeirah with his four young children, aged between one and eight, on Saturday night when they heard an explosion. "We heard an explosion and the debris started falling," he recounted. "It was like a hailstorm. It was unnerving, especially with small children, to see missiles flying over your house." The father-of-four flew back to the UK on Wednesday aboard a chartered Gulfstream jet.
Despite the alarming experience, Mr Leeds was adamant that he did not leave Dubai because of the missile attacks. "That was the easy way out," he told The Independent. "I didn't leave because of the missiles. I'm hosting a business networking lunch with more than 1,000 people and there was no way I was going to miss it." He expects to return to the United Arab Emirates within two weeks.
Social Media Backlash and Defence of Dubai's Safety
The property developer faced criticism on social media after posting about his expensive escape on platform X, including pictures of himself and his brother's family onboard the private jet. "If you have the money, leaving the UAE isn't really an issue," Mr Leeds stated in his posts. He pushed back against what he called 'false narratives' portraying Dubai as unsafe.
"People are not fleeing Dubai," he insisted. "I offered free seats on the jet to my friends and no one was interested. When people tell me in England, 'You're finally back from a war zone,' I tell them Dubai is totally safe. I have complete trust in the UAE government. They keep people's best interests in mind. And I am grateful for the military that is defending the country."
Soaring Demand for Private Jets and Alternative Escape Routes
The conflict has triggered massive travel disruption across the Middle East, with more than 20,000 flights cancelled since Saturday following US-Israel joint military strikes and Iran's retaliatory attacks on America's Gulf allies. Thousands remain stranded as Iranian strikes continue, with major airlines like Etihad Airways and Emirates suspending scheduled flights until at least March 6.
This has created unprecedented demand for private jets among Dubai's large population of ultra-wealthy residents. Caroline Cresp, managing director of private jet charter firm Lunajets Dubai, revealed that prices have skyrocketed. A 12 to 14-seat private jet from Dubai to Europe now costs over €200,000 (£174,000), compared to €70,000–€80,000 (£61,000 – 69,000) before the conflict. "Individual seats are being sold for about €25,000 (£21,000)," said Ms Cresp. "Even if people are willing to pay those steep prices, availability is scarce."
Lunajets has operated a dozen flights from Dubai to cities including Istanbul, Athens and Rome this week, but a waiting list persists. "Capacity is extremely limited. In Dubai, limited slots are available per day," Ms Cresp added, noting that departure slots are difficult to obtain.
Land Border with Oman Emerges as Key Exit Point
With air travel severely restricted, the land border with Oman has become an unexpected escape route for travellers trying to leave the UAE. At the Khatm Al Shikla border crossing near Al Ain, buses, taxis and private cars have been ferrying passengers across the desert frontier in hopes of catching flights from Muscat.
Natelea Strnadiva, a Czech citizen visiting Dubai with her parents, paid Dh2,500 (£500) for a taxi to the Al Ain border crossing. "We are getting an Omani taxi from here for Dh 1600 (£320) to go to Muscat airport," she said. "It's a lot of money, but we have no choice." Her family did not yet have confirmed tickets from Muscat. "We will figure that out later. We just want to get out of here," Ms Strnadiva added.
Many travellers reported smooth procedures at the border, with no visa charges. However, scenes at Muscat International Airport were chaotic as passengers rushed to secure seats on departing flights. "There was a huge line even though I reached the airport at least three hours before my flight to Delhi," said Ramesh, an Indian tourist who had travelled from Dubai.
Oman Facilitates Evacuation Efforts
In response to the swell in passengers, Oman announced on Thursday it was working with international airlines to organise flights to help stranded Gulf passengers. Oman's Foreign minister Badr Albusaidy wrote on X: "The citizens of all countries have the human right to safety and security. People matter. Let's stop the war now."
Lunajets has chartered commercial flights from Muscat to European destinations, with tickets priced at about €2,000 (£1,700) – a far more affordable option for stranded passengers. "We operated multiple Airbus A320 & Boeing 737 charter flights carrying about 180 passengers each from Oman to Istanbul and Athens," Ms Cresp said.
Personal Stories of Evacuation
A British resident of Dubai for five years, who requested anonymity, was at the border on Wednesday taking his visiting parents to his vacation home in Phuket, Thailand. "They will try to find a flight to England, and we're planning to stay in Phuket for a month," he said. "The attacks are continuing and we don't know what the endgame is. So, we decided to get out for a while and wait it out."
Another British resident who owns an apartment in Burj Khalifa decided to return to England temporarily due to escalating strikes. "Burj Khalifa is such an iconic landmark and I'm worried it could become a target," said the business owner, who also asked not to be identified. "I'll decide about returning depending on how the conflict unfolds."
Border Crossing Becomes Lucrative Business
The surge in passengers has created unexpected business opportunities for drivers at the Oman border. At an ADNOC petrol station near the crossing, Omani taxi drivers waited for customers heading to Muscat airport. "I've been making a trip to the airport every day," said Mfhood Alamri, an Omani citizen. He and his brother, Younus Alamri, temporarily left security jobs at a private company to ferry passengers across the border.
The siblings charge Dh1,200 (£240) to Dh1,600 (£320) per passenger, nearly double the usual Dh800 (£160) fare. "It's quick money and we are helping people too," Alamri said. Luxury buses hired by companies with stranded staff in the UAE were also waiting at the border, charging about 50 Omani rials (£50) per seat to Muscat.
While many cross into Oman for flights from Muscat, others take an even longer road route from the UAE to Riyadh in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, where airspace remains open and more flights operate. Travel agents and drivers report that buses and private vehicles now regularly ferry passengers across desert highways as thousands seek any available route home.
