(March 12, 2026) The sudden escalation of tensions in West Asia has triggered a ripple effect across international travel routes, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in transit hubs across the Gulf. Several flights connecting the UAE to India and other destinations have been delayed or cancelled as airlines recalibrate routes and schedules amid security concerns. Airports have grown crowded, hotels have filled quickly, and anxious travellers, many of them tourists have found themselves navigating uncertainty in unfamiliar surroundings.
Amid this disruption, an unexpected sanctuary has emerged on the outskirts of Ajman, a short drive from Dubai. Here, Indian businessman Dr Dhiraj Jain has opened the gates of his sprawling farmhouse to travellers who suddenly found themselves without accommodation or funds while waiting for flights to resume.
For the past several days, Jain’s 80,000-square-foot farmhouse has functioned less like a private residence and more like a temporary relief centre. Large halls have been converted into shared sleeping spaces, with mattresses laid out for families and individuals who arrive carrying little more than their luggage and uncertainty. Meals are arranged daily, and volunteers help manage the flow of guests coming in and out as travel plans change.
Getting stranded travellers to the shelter was the first logistical challenge. To solve it, Jain deployed 11 cars, including six Rolls-Royces from his own fleet to collect passengers from hotels, airports and other locations across Dubai and nearby emirates. The vehicles make regular trips, bringing in new arrivals every few hours.
Among those staying at the farmhouse are families from Maharashtra and Rajasthan who had travelled to the UAE as tourists. Several said they were initially alarmed by the sound of military activity and the sudden wave of flight cancellations. With accommodation prices rising rapidly and rooms becoming scarce, many were unsure how they would manage the wait. For them, the farmhouse has offered a pause from the anxiety of the unfolding situation.
Stranded tourists at Dr Dhiraj Jain’s farmhouse
Rajasthan to Dubai
Dr Dhiraj Jain is better known in the region for his work in business rather than humanitarian logistics. He is the chairman of 1XL Holdings, a Dubai-based firm that specialises in marketing and strategic promotion for large real-estate developments.
His journey into the world of business began far from the Gulf’s glass towers. Jain grew up in Rajasthan, in a traditional Jain family where education and discipline were strongly emphasised. The environment he grew up in was modest, but it instilled an early awareness of enterprise. As a student he developed an interest in how businesses communicate their value, and why some ventures attract customers while others struggle to gain visibility.
That curiosity gradually drew him toward marketing and brand strategy. Before moving abroad, he experimented with small business ventures and trading activities, learning firsthand how market demand, supply chains and customer trust shape outcomes. Some attempts failed, but the experiences sharpened his understanding of how businesses function.
Seeking a broader canvas, Jain eventually moved to Dubai, a city whose economy thrives on international investment and rapid urban development. Observing the real-estate boom there, he noticed a gap: many ambitious property projects lacked strong global marketing strategies that could effectively connect them with investors abroad.
That insight became the foundation for 1XL, a company designed to bridge the communication gap between developers and international buyers. Over time, the firm carved out a niche in the competitive property ecosystem of the UAE, working with developers to improve how projects are positioned and promoted in global markets.
For now, however, Jain’s attention is focused less on property campaigns and more on the steady stream of travellers arriving at his Ajman farmhouse. As long as flight disruptions continue, the property will remain open.
In a week defined by geopolitical uncertainty, the farmhouse has become an unlikely waypoint, where Rolls-Royces serve as shuttle vehicles, a private estate doubles as a shelter, and stranded travellers find a brief moment of stability while waiting for their flights, to return back home.
