Exodus of the influencers: Laura Anderson 'prays for safe skies' as she manages to get a flight to Edinburgh out of Dubai - while Sam Gowland attempts his fourth trip to the airport after multiple cancellations

Laura Anderson has said she is praying for 'safe skies' as she has managed to get a flight to Edinburgh out of Dubai amid the esclating conflict in the Middle East, while Sam Gowland made his fourth attempt to flee the city.  

Over the weekend, Iran launched a series of retaliatory air strikes against the United Arab Emirates and other targets after US-Israeli military operations against Iran, with significant damage caused in influencer hotspot Dubai.   

Former Love Island star Laura, 36, took to Instagram on Wednesday and revealed she had managed to get a flight out of the UAE along with her two-year-old daughter Bonnie. Laura had only touched down in Dubai last Friday to visit her sister. 

Sharing a photo of her plane before take off, she wrote: 'We're on. Although I'm taking each stage very lightly... The airport was quiet as expected. Calm, people were so helpful I felt a bit teary.

'Praying for safe skies (as I've always said when someone flys) it just means more now. Everyone on board is very quiet, I assume on edge a little like me. My dad's favourite song just ame on so I'm feeling positive.

'Thank you to the UAE government for protecting us and continuing to protect my friends and family. I will always be proud to have been an expat.'

In another photo holding her daughter's hand, Laura added: 'For those asking, I'm flying to Edinburgh. My original flight was next Monday, I booked another flight myself and will refund Mondays. 

'Little longer flight time today as expected we're taking a different path. Also just looked down and saw my tattoo #bekind to yourself, each other and your crew - gutted we didn't have time to pick them up some chocolates.' 

Laura stayed with her sister while in Dubai and shared a clip of herself playing with Bonnie at the pool before they had to leave for their flight. 

'Ventured outside to my sister's garden for half an hour before we leave. Appreciate this moment so much, had to share,' she wrote in the caption.

Meanwhile, fellow Love Islander Sam revealed he was making his fourth attempt to leave Dubai on Wednesday.

The reality star, 30, shared a video of himself preparing to leave for the airport alongside the caption: 'Last niight's flight again cancelled for the third time, somehow managed to find another one for 10am this morning! Fourht time lucky, let's see.'    

Missile strikes and suicide drones have rocked the Middle East for five days. British travellers are scrambling to leave the region as flights are disrupted and governments warn nationals to depart amid fears the conflict could widen.  

Before she headed to the airport, Laura gave others in Dubai advise on how to leave.

She wrote: 'If you have a confimrmed booking and your flight is showing scheduled in green on emirates.com on flight status, go to the airport. OR if Emirates has contacted your pre-existing flight as an expatriation flight.

'If you're trying to get home and haven't heard from Emirates-refund your original return and book a new flight. We have obviously been lucky as ours is going ahead so far and you are running the risk of another cancellation but for us it was worth it.' 

Just days before the strikes began, Sam revealed he was planning on selling his newly-built Dubai mansion for an eye-popping £2million.

Reality star turned property magnate, Sam spoke out again about the missiles, shortly after hitting back at comments from vile trolls, who he claimed revelled in the catastrophe and wished ill upon him.

In a video shared over the weekend, he said: 'I cannot comprehend at all the tweets [and] comments about what is going on in Dubai. People are celebrating, saying 'Glad I have seen this happen to Dubai in my lifetime' or 'I hope your house gets hit'...

'I have a thick skin, but even from a humanitarian perspective, I cannot believe some of the things I have seen. There are many different reasons why people come here, but to see other human beings wishing ill...

'Read the comments on Instagram about the post of my house, I am lost for words.'

On Tuesday, he continued in his battle against the crisis as he revealed he had booked his flights - sharing images of both his flight details and his pool.

He revealed he had booked the flights in the hope of leaving on Tuesday evening dependant on the state of the air space.    

A slew of celebrities and influencers have been flip-flopping on their take on the crisis, with stars including Vicky Pattison releasing terrified content before backtracking and insisting coverage has been hyperbolic.

Last year, former Apprentice star Luisa Zissman relocated to Dubai with two of her three children, including Indigo Esme, nine, and Clementine and her Irish millionaire husband Andrew Collins.

Her eldest daughter, 15 year-old Dixie who she shares with her ex-husband Oliver Zissman, remains in the UK to finish her education at her boarding school.

Earlier in the week, Luisa revealed she had stocked her basement for emergencies as she had friends who are sleeping in their basements.

In an update, she shared a selfie video showing her on a dog walk while saying to the camera: 'Hey guys, Clemmie is hiking in the desert somewhere over there with some friends and I am walking the dogs. I didn't want to walk through the desert...

'So we're just sitting here aren't we. This is Murphy and little Crumble's here. It's very quiet here today which is nice, a nice calm feeling. We've had a very nice normal day. We had breakfast - well breakfast/lunch - with some friends...

'One of my friends is stuck in England so her husband and kids, they've been round to ours the last couple of days just seeing how things go...

'Last night was quite noisy but it's kind of fine still here at the moment. It's just not knowing what's gonna happen next or when it's going to end.'

She added a caption reading: 'Constantly checking the skies'.