Stranded in a Good Place
Right or wrong, Indonesia remains the best home. And when distance makes longing feel real, one simple sentence rises from the heart: Indonesia is always worthy of being a home to return to.
Singapore (ANTARA) - There are prayers that are sometimes uttered too lightly, as if merely a small wish passing through the mind.
A prayer that journeys be extended, that one could stay a little longer in the beautiful city, that there would be no rush to return home. But life often answers prayers in ways that are unexpected.
That is how it feels when a journey that was supposed to be simple becomes a stranded experience for days in a foreign country, with no certainty of when one can go home.
From this arises a very simple, yet strong lesson: wherever someone is stranded, in any place as beautiful as it may be, without certainty of returning home, no one truly feels at ease. Home remains home.
Even the golden cage can never replace the thin mattress in one’s own simple room, which provides security and freedom that cannot be substituted.
That feeling is perhaps what dozens of Indonesian citizens found themselves experiencing when they were suddenly stranded in the United Arab Emirates as airspace in the Middle East region was closed at the end of February 2026.
Everything began from a journey that should have gone normally. On the night of 27 February 2026, a plane carrying a number of passengers on a layover landed at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. This airport is one of the world’s most important global flight hubs.
Before the geopolitical disruption, the airport served more than 22 million passengers per year and connected Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Its terminal is spacious, modern, and designed with futuristic architecture. Inside, thousands of passengers from various countries typically move in a highly orderly rhythm.
The travel plan at that time was simple: a few hours of transit before continuing the flight to Jakarta.
Because the layover time was long, some passengers chose to leave the airport to rest for a while in Abu Dhabi city.
The city is known as one of the most well‑organised in the Middle East, with clean streets, modern buildings, and a transport system that runs smoothly.
But who would have thought that the following morning, 28 February 2026, around 10:00 Abu Dhabi time, the situation would change drastically.
The social media timeline suddenly filled with news of American and Israeli military strikes against Iran. Not long after, reports of retaliatory strikes emerged.
In the Middle East, such news is not merely a geopolitics development. In minutes, security situations can change.
Not long after the news spread, the sound of blasts could be heard from afar. The phones of residents and visitors simultaneously received emergency alerts warning of heightened vigilance. Tensions rose.
Airspace Closed
The authorities of the United Arab Emirates quickly took precautionary steps by closing parts of the airspace. Flight operations were restricted, and several major airports halted commercial air traffic.
Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport were included in this alert system.
In a short time, thousands of international passengers were suddenly stranded.
Abu Dhabi’s tourism authorities recorded around 20,000 international visitors affected by the airspace closure. Most were transit passengers who were supposed to continue their journeys to various destinations.
Uncertainty began to set in. Passengers still inside the airport found it relatively easier to obtain airline or hotel facilities, even if they had to queue for hours. But those who were outside the airport faced a different situation.
When attempting to return to the airport, access to terminals was tightly guarded by security personnel. Patrol vehicles were stationed at several points, and anyone was asked to stay away from the airport area.
The airport became a restricted zone. Efforts to contact airlines did not immediately provide certainty. Reply emails simply stated that flights were suspended until further notice.
Such a situation showed how fragile travel plans can be in the midst of a geopolitical crisis.
Amid the uncertainty, solidarity among fellow citizens felt very real. Indonesian nationals residing in Abu Dhabi opened their homes to fellow Indonesians seeking temporary accommodation.
The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indonesian Consulate General in Dubai moved quickly. The Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE, Judha Nugraha, ensured all affected Indonesians were registered and connected in a single communications channel. A communications group was formed so that every development in the situation could be conveyed promptly.
Online meetings were also held to listen to the conditions of each Indonesian citizen who was stranded. This approach provided a sense of reassurance that the state is protecting its people.
The following days unfolded at a different pace. The uncertainty persisted, but gradually the ability to adapt emerged.
Interestingly, UAE society appeared to face the situation with remarkable calm. Trust in the government and the country’s security system seemed very strong. People continued their activities with heightened vigilance, but without excessive panic.
Schools were shifted to remote learning for several days. The government also introduced a number of prevention measures to ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, the emergency alert sounds that were initially tense gradually became part of daily life.
Although some foreign nationals still stayed in hotels, some chose to sleep in lobbies for fear of being too close to windows after hearing the perceived missile detonations.
One Indonesian passenger who was stranded at the band