In late February, global peace was significantly disrupted due to military offensives by the United States and Israel against Iran, which led to disruptions in air traffic across the Middle East. The Latvian authorities also advised their citizens against traveling to this region amidst the heightened tensions. A woman from Riga, Dace, had been planning a family vacation to the United Arab Emirates, but in light of the recent military conflict, they concluded that traveling there was no longer safe.

On February 28, Israeli and U.S. military forces conducted strikes on Iran. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli locations and subsequently struck U.S. military areas in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. This escalation of military action prompted Dace and her family to rethink their plans, which originally involved a week-long stay in Dubai with a day trip to Abu Dhabi, along with various activities and cultural experiences.

As the conflict intensified, Dace expressed their disappointment over the canceled trip, emphasizing that their priorities had shifted to valuing safety and life over travel and leisure. The family's experience highlights the impacts of international conflicts on personal lives and travel decisions, serving as a reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and affect individual plans.