A Bermudian pilot caught in Dubai during the Persian Gulf conflict has described how he watched explosions 600 metres from his hotel when Iran attacked the nearby airport.

Rufus Ward, from Warwick, described a mixture of air raid alerts, rattling windows and a spirit of togetherness as he awaited the go-ahead to leave the tense region.

The private jet pilot said the explosion occurred while he was in his hotel at the Dubai International Airport which was closed following Israeli and US strikes on Iran on Saturday.

Mr Ward, from Warwick, described flashes across the skies on the Sunday night when the terminal close to his hotel was hit by projectiles.

He said: “I couldn't believe it — I got the alert which was a real fright, I texted my colleague to check in.

“Then I was just getting back to sleep when there was a very distinct boom and the windows rattled.

“The next day I was in the gym when another bomb went off close by — a drone, the whole place shook and the windows rattled.

“Everyone looked at each other for a few seconds … then got back on with working out … talk about the human ability to adapt.”

The airspace over the United Arab Emirates’ busiest airport has since reopened to limited operations and Mr Ward said that although he may be staying at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre for a few days, he was in good spirits.

He said: “The atmosphere here is amazing — we're in a hotel by the airport with a bunch of stranded folks and we've all been looking after each other and generally having a great time!

“It's absolutely a blitz mentality here. It certainly gets your attention. The alarms for the past two nights have gone off around 2am or 3am in the morning and it’s loud.

“There is a shelter here, it’s an underground car park.”

In a video recorded by his colleague in the immediate aftermath of the attack on Sunday, loud explosions could be heard in the background close to the Dubai airport.

Mr Ward, who is based in China, said he arrived in Dubai two days before the attacks.

He said he flew from China to Turkey and Saudi Arabia before flying to Dubai last Thursday and he said the aircraft was scheduled to return to China yesterday.

Mr Ward said he had made good friends with others who were stranded and last evening he met several people from China, Canada, Sweden and the US for dinner.

He said there were also a few German and Indian nationals at the dinner table and he added: “We're all looking out for each other and have started a WhatsApp group.

“It's definitely a gigantic inconvenience, but everybody's making the best of it.

“Obviously as a pilot, I'm in a much better situation than everybody else, because the plane can't go until I'm ready!”

He said several members of the group were due to leave Dubai yesterday but their flights were delayed.

“So, it's really frustrating for everybody, but I have to say that everyone's in extremely good spirits despite all of it,” Mr Ward said. “I think a lot of that is because we're all pulling together. It's really brought out the best in everybody in my opinion.”

Mr Ward also hailed the staff at the hotel, adding that “we've become great firm friends”.

He said many of the staff were from other countries and he noted: “At times like this they're really missing their families, but all of us are looking after each other.”