Travelers Flock to Oman, Saudi Arabia to Escape Dubai Risks

The city of Muscat in Oman is typically targeted by travelers as the cultural counterpoint to nearby Dubai and its glitzy skyscrapers. But now the city is becoming a major draw for a very different kind of visitor: people stranded by airspace closings who are willing to pay a premium to evacuate.

The drive from Dubai to Muscat International Airport, where operations are normal, can be made in just under five hours if you don’t take the scenic route along the Persian Gulf. It’s becoming a popular trip for people worried about spending a lengthy stretch of time in Dubai, where debris from Iranian missiles has rained down on the local airport and the man-made island Palm Jumeirah, and flights out of the city remain elusive.