Vicky Pattison recently shared moments from her visit to Oman with her husband, Ercan, expressing that their main priority was returning home. This came after they urgently left Dubai due to Iranian missile strikes.
The 38-year-old TV star and her partner decided to leave Dubai following the unrest triggered by the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which created widespread turmoil throughout the UAE.
Amid the growing tension, Vicky explained that they undertook an 11-hour drive to cross the border into Oman. This was a desperate attempt to fly back to the UK after three of their flights had been cancelled.
While they considered flying to Australia or New Zealand, the couple ultimately decided that their priority was to return home to reunite with their cherished dogs, Milo and Max, as swiftly and safely as possible.
Despite the circumstances, Vicky and Ercan made the most of their time in Oman, taking in the sights and even swimming with turtles.
On Wednesday, Vicky shared photos from their trip on Instagram, writing: “Moments from Oman… Such a beautiful country and, honestly, a shame that we didn’t get to explore it more – our focus was getting home obviously.”
Vicky Pattison has shared highlights from her trip to Oman with husband Ercan but said ‘our focus was getting home’ in the post – after fleeing Dubai amid Iranian missile strikes
The TV personality, 38, and her partner left Dubai last week after the US-Israel war against Iran sparked chaos in the UAE
‘But I’m really happy we made the most of our last couple of days while we waited for our flight…
‘Huge thank you to @daymaniyat_experts, for a wonderful experience snorkelling with the turtles… and @stonevibes.oman for an incredible tour of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.’
Last week she gave an update on how things were going after being silent on social media amid chaos in the region.
Alongside snaps of their mammoth trip to Oman, she penned: ‘We’re so sorry for our radio silence over the last week, with everything unfolding the way it was and changing so rapidly we desperately didn’t want to say anything insensitive or hyperbolic that would add to the rising panic around the situation’.
‘We really appreciate all your messages of concern and just wanted to reassure everyone that we’re fine. After 3 cancelled flights and the realisation that we definitely weren’t going to make it on to Australia and New Zealand we wanted to try and get home as quickly and safely as possible.’
She went on: ‘I understand that there are a lot of people still in Dubai feeling really calm and safe however, we wanted to be back to our babies, work and normality and we felt like Oman was our best option.
‘We made our way to Oman from Dubai with some of our friends via private transfer, we used this company @skyevipcarrental and found them to be professional, reasonably priced and comfortable.’
Vicky continued: ‘All in all, the journey took us around 11 hours, including around 2-3 hours at the border crossing, checking documents and passports and cost about £130pp’.
‘For anyone stuck in Dubai and wanting to get home via Oman, I will put more information on @vickysvacays.. I just don’t want to overwhelm or bore anyone on here. We are going to try and enjoy our last days away and explore Oman hopefully.
‘The last week has been quite unsettled and we understand people feeling unsafe and uncertain.. we have experienced moments like that, but ultimately feel like it’s important we acknowledge our position of privilege.
At the time she revealed they had been driven a whopping 11 hours across the border to Oman amid the ‘rising panic’ in a desperate bid to finally fly home to the UK
But while in Oman they made the most of their trip as they saw the sights and swam with turtles
Sharing snaps from the visit she penned on Instagram on Wednesday: ‘Moments from Oman… Such a beautiful country and honestly, a shame that we didn’t get to explore it more – our focus was getting home obviously…’
She added: ‘We are extremely grateful to be making our way home and are thinking of anyone feeling fearful or unsettled, anywhere in a world that is rapidly becoming an increasingly scary place to be.
‘Finally just a little Thank you to @addressbeachresort and @uaegov for keeping us safe, calm and informed when possible. We will keep you updated and are looking forward to getting home in the next couple of days.’
On Tuesday she blasted ‘shameful’ Dubai expats who abandoned their pets to flee the missiles raining down on the Middle East.
Vets have reported an influx in inquiries about euthanising pets as thousands of Brits trapped in the region scramble to get home.
In response, the TV personality took to her Instagram Stories to say those leaving their animals behind never deserved them.
She wrote: ‘Just a note… if you are abandoning your pets in Dubai – you didn’t deserve that animal to begin with and I pray it finds a better home. Shameful.’
K9 Friends Dubai, a dog re-homing group, said it has become overwhelmed by the number of dog owners wanting to leave their pets behind and phone calls they have received about abandoned puppies.
Animal groups are trying their best to find shelters – but hundreds of posts about deserted pets have been spotted online.
And some vets have had to euthanise even healthy pets because their owners don’t want to face the relocation costs or paperwork.
Claire Hopkins, a resident of Dubai who volunteers with several animal organisations and shelters, said they were under severe financial pressure as fundraising activities are highly regulated and GoFundMe pages are banned in Dubai.
She said: ‘Some pet owners are stressed and panicking. It’s right across the board, and I think the Brits are better than most, but you’re talking about 200 different nationalities here in the UAE.
‘Some people want to give back their adoptive pets. There are dogs starting to be abandoned.
‘The airlines aren’t taking animals at the moment anyway as the flights are operating a very reduced service. If you wanted to get a rabies jab, then you have to delay your travel by a further three weeks.
‘I’m sorry to say that vets have had inquiries about euthanasia, which is disgusting.
‘Most vets would pass them on to the shelters, but we’re already full.’
