Maldivian tennis team stranded in Jordan arrive in Maldives, coach to return Monday

All members of the Maldives national tennis team who were stranded in Jordan have returned to Maldives.

However, their Iranian coach is expected to arrive on Monday.

The team had been stranded in Amman following heightened regional tensions after Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting travel disruptions across the Middle East. The team had travelled to Jordan on 12 June to participate in a qualifying tournament, which was later cancelled by the Jordan Tennis Association due to the escalating security situation.

Tennis Association of Maldives official said that the players and officials travelled from Amman to Dubai and then to Male'. The return journey was made on separate flights and required full immigration and baggage clearance in Dubai.

“As the team’s journey from Amman to Dubai was not a transit flight, all passengers had to complete immigration and baggage procedures in Dubai,” the official said.

However, the team’s Iranian coach, Ali Riza, could not join them on the same route.

“Iranian citizens need to obtain a visa in advance to enter Dubai on a non-transit flight, which is a time-consuming process. So we decided to bring the coach through Istanbul instead,” the official said.

According to the association, 10 members of the team paid a total of USD 4,000 for the separate Amman-to-Dubai flight. The onward flight from Dubai to Male' was arranged by Fly Dubai at no additional cost, using the cost of the team’s original tickets.

“The Fly Dubai agents here in Male' were very helpful in facilitating this,” the official added.

Fly Dubai also arranged the coach’s flight from Istanbul to Male' using the value of his previously purchased ticket. Only the Amman-Istanbul leg of the coach’s journey required a new ticket, which cost USD 600.

Maldivian players and officials returned home on Saturday morning. Coach Ali Riza is scheduled to arrive in Male' on Monday afternoon.