"No one feels alone": UAE developers offer free stays as flight cancellations strand travellers

When flight cancellations and sudden airspace closures left thousands of travellers stranded across the UAE, a number of property developers and holiday home operators stepped in with an unexpected solution, free or heavily discounted accommodation for those unable to return home.Several companies across the country opened their apartments to visitors caught in the disruption, offering short-term relief at a time when hotel prices were surging and flights remained uncertain. The initiative, as per Khaleej Times, saw developers, rental platforms and holiday home operators mobilise quickly to support stranded travellers.Among the first to act was UAE-based developer Peace Homes Development.

“During the current situation, when airspace closures left many visitors unable to return home, we felt it was our duty to step forward,” said Ahsan Rasheed, chairman of the company.Rasheed emphasised that the decision came voluntarily. “No one asked us to do this. Our love and respect for this country and its leadership naturally encourage us to stand up and help whenever needed.”According to him, the company received more than 2,000 requests for assistance through different channels.

Peace Homes eventually arranged free accommodation for hundreds of stranded visitors and continued expanding its support.“We arranged free accommodation for hundreds of stranded visitors, while continuing to expand support,” Rasheed said. “We believe that when visitors eventually return to their countries, they should remember not only the beauty of Dubai but also the kindness and humanity they experienced here during a difficult time.”For Danube Properties, the decision to help was driven by personal experience. Founder and chairman Rizwan Sajan said the company immediately made its apartments available to stranded travellers.“Offering free accommodation to those stranded in Dubai is our way of ensuring that no one feels alone during this crisis,” Sajan said. “I have personally experienced moments of uncertainty during my time in Kuwait, and I understood the fear and helplessness many were facing.”The company has so far accommodated more than 600 people, while continuing to assist others searching for temporary shelter.“Families and senior citizens remain our top priority, and we are also arranging hotel stays where required,” Sajan said. “Those in need can directly message the Danube Properties Instagram account, and our team will reach out to them.”Support also came from the UAE’s holiday home sector, which quickly mobilised as accommodation prices rose amid the travel disruption.According to Livjaza, a local holiday home rental marketplace, more than 100 operators in its network began offering reduced nightly rates and complimentary nights to stranded families.CEO Ramneek Singh Dhir said the platform also removed service fees to lower the cost of bookings.“To further assist travellers, Livjaza removed all platform fees, enabling bookings at 15 to 20 per cent lower prices than international platforms,” he said.Dhir added that the industry response was swift and collective. “With this rapid, collective response, the UAE's holiday home sector came together to support visitors during unexpected disruptions.”Through its network alone, more than 50 guests have already been accommodated, while over 500 stranded travellers reached out seeking help.Other companies offered discounted stays rather than free rooms. Airas Vacation Home Rental said it provided major price reductions for families stuck in the country.“We had about four families that were stranded in the UAE unable to return,” said Sidharth Lalwani, sales head of the company. “We offered our rooms at a 40-50 per cent discount compared to prices last month. It was budget-friendly for these families, and it meant they had one less thing to worry about.”For Belgian tourist Michaël Crepin, the assistance arrived at a crucial moment. Crepin had travelled to Dubai with his son, his Serbian partner and her daughter to celebrate their birthdays, a trip meant to introduce the children as a blended family.Just as they prepared to leave, flights began getting cancelled.Crepin described the situation as “super challenging”, as he struggled to manage two children without a routine while repeatedly trying to rebook flights and dealing with rising accommodation costs.“Back in Serbia and Belgium, our pets are in paid care,” he said. “Work was waiting. Real life was just paused. What was supposed to be our children's beautiful first meeting became a test we never signed up for. We were barely holding up.”Eventually, Livjaza helped the family find an affordable apartment, something Crepin says made a huge difference during the crisis. “We felt heard and supported in a crisis,” he said. “It showed us that the human touch matters."