The Scotland and Liverpool great is stuck in the Middle East after global airlines suspended all flights from the region
21:01, 28 Feb 2026Updated 21:12, 28 Feb 2026
Graeme Souness is stuck in Abu Dhabi
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Graeme Souness is stuck in Abu Dhabi
Graeme Souness has been left stranded in Abu Dhabi after the Middle East erupted into war - with the Rangers legend revealing he heard loud bangs from the airport.
Souness posted a video from Zayed International Airport on Saturday night after the US and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran. Explosions were heard in Dubai - with a luxury hotel bursting into flames leaving four injured - while a death has even been reported in Abu Dhabi after debris fell on a residential area.
Scotland great Souness was meant to be flying back home from Abu Dhabi to the UK but was caught up in the travel chaos after the wave of missiles forced Gulf countries to close their airspace. The 72-year-old had been due to fly with Etihad, but the airline has suspended all flights until 14:00 UAE time on Sunday, 1 March.
The Liverpool ambassador confirmed he heard blasts around the UAE capital from the airport lounge but suggested he was safe and ready to book into a nearby hotel.
Sharing a video initially from his departure gate on the eve of the Old Firm derby at Ibrox, he said: "I'm currently in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi airport. I'll just give you a little quick glimpse where I am... that is my plane that I am meant to be catching to go back to the UK.
"Now my mum said to me when I was a little boy, 'wherever you are son, there's never a dull moment.'
"So I was thinking this weekend, you know, the biggest game of the season for me, the Rangers-Celtic game, a game that the Rangers are only going to put the cap on to play against big style.
"Anyway, my mum said to me wherever you are son, there's never a dull moment. Well, right now I'm in this airport, I'm hearing some pretty loud bangs going off and anti-missiles, taking out missiles that are being fired at some American base."
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In a follow-up video, he posted to his Instagram stories: "The case continues. Flight's been cancelled, still hearing explosions. So we'll give up. We're just going to check into a hotel for a couple of nights and see where we are.
"Hopefully things will settle down, we'll get back on our flight. You get grumpy when you get delays and stuff at airports. But, you know, I think we should think of people that maybe at this time are dying. Anyway, I'll keep you posted."
Other global airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways and British Airways have halted all flights to and from the region.