Bollywood star Malaika Arora`s mother, Joyce Arora, is currently stranded in Dubai. The 72-year-old was stuck after her flight was suspended amid escalating tensions across parts of West Asia. The disruption comes after Iran`s reported retaliatory attacks on several US allies in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, following American and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory on February 28.
Malaika Arora`s mother stranded in Dubai
Talking about being stranded in Dubai, Joyce told ETimes that she was scheduled to return to Mumbai on March 3; however, she received a notification informing her that her flight had been cancelled due to the ongoing conflict. She revealed, “I must say, I feel safe here. In fact, I could see the missiles being intercepted in the sky with my own eyes. It was frightening, but the Dubai military is doing a fantastic job.”
Joyce added that her daughters, Malaika and Amrita, are in Mumbai and are aware that she is safe. She revealed that they even call her three to four times a day and remain in constant touch. Joyce further expressed hope of returning to Mumbai soon since some flights and airlines are resuming operations.
Joyce had reportedly flown to Dubai to celebrate her elder sister`s birthday. A couple of days later, her family also celebrated her birthday on March 2.
About growing tensions in West Asia
It was on February 28, that massive explosions rocked Tehran after Israel launched what it described as “preventive” missile strikes against Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the region.
The strikes come amid heightened strain between the United States and Iran over a potential nuclear agreement and growing fears of a wider military confrontation in the Middle East. Several missiles hit areas along University Street and in the Jomhouri district of the Iranian capital.
Over 2024 and 2025, a long-standing shadow conflict between Israel and Iran escalated into a series of unprecedented direct military confrontations, including major aerial strikes and reciprocal missile attacks that marked a dangerous shift from indirect hostilities to overt warfare.
Earlier this week, Israeli warplanes carried out intensive airstrikes in Beirut`s southern suburbs, hours after rockets were fired from Lebanese territory toward Israel, local television channel al-Jadeed reported.
(With inputs from IANS)
