PUNE / DUBAI — Eighty-four MBA students from Pune’s Indira University are currently stranded in Dubai following the sudden closure of regional airspace amidst the rapidly escalating military conflict in West Asia. The students, who were visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of an annual academic exposure programme, were caught in the crossfire of a massive geopolitical shift after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
Janardan Pawar, Dean of the institute’s School of Information Technology, confirmed on Sunday, March 1, 2026, that the university is in constant communication with the students, who are currently safe and being housed in local hotels. “Under our global programme, we send students there every year for academic exposure. This year, 84 students went in two batches,” Pawar told mediapersons. He added that the institution is coordinating closely with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate their return to India at the earliest possible opportunity.
The situation in Dubai remains tense following reports from Al Jazeera that an Iranian drone struck Dubai International Airport (DXB), injuring four people and causing damage to a passenger terminal. This retaliatory strike by Iran follows “Operation Epic Fury,” a daylight aerial campaign by US and Israeli forces that targeted over 500 sites across Iran. While the UAE and other Gulf nations have been drawn into the conflict, reports from CNN and Fox News indicate polarized reactions within Iran itself, with some citizens reportedly celebrating the end of the 37-year rule of the Supreme Leader.
As the Indian government issues high-level travel advisories for the region, the parents of the stranded students remain in a state of high anxiety. The university has reassured families that all students are being provided with necessary support and that their safety is the top priority. With major airlines suspending operations and the “Ghost Skies” phenomenon leaving the Persian Gulf airspace empty of commercial traffic, the timeline for a special evacuation or the reopening of safe corridors remains uncertain.
