... The way which you wrote this made me think there was a far more dramatic ending than being stuck at an airport for several hours due to mechanical failure.

My brother in Christ, I experienced that in Cleveland...

But I am not sure what you mean at the end - are these guys STILL in Dubai?! You said they were stuk at the airport for several hours... Like... What, they had to stay at the airport to wait for their boat because, as you said, they couldn't return by plane? ... Or they waited several hours at the airport to catch another flight..? What are you saying?