150 Russian pilgrims stranded in UAE

Three groups of about 150 Russians who performed the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and were supposed to return home via the UAE have been waiting for a flight to Sharjah for four days. One of the pilgrims, Ramazan Chomaev, told RIA Novosti that it is still unknown when they will fly.

"They said we could fly on Sunday evening, but then they canceled it again, so we're waiting," he said. The pilgrims, including Muslims from Moscow, Ryazan, Novosibirsk and Stavropol, are in good spirits despite the delay.

"They put us in hotels. We're eating well, we're feeling good. It's as if an additional trip to the UAE has been organized for us," said Chomaev.

The delays are said to be due to the closure of the Persian state's airspace amid Israel's aggression against Iran.