Stephanie Rice is on her way home to Dubai, after her return was delayed by a week due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The former Australian Olympian, 37, posted on Instagram Stories that she was boarding a flight from Melbourne to Dubai after her trip had been delayed by a week.
The first post showed her arriving at Melbourne Airport to board her flight, and the second showed her seated on a plane at 10.20pm local time on March 11.
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“A week delayed but time to go home! Thank you for all our prayers,” she wrote.
The same day as her departure, there had been reports of two Iranian drones striking an area close to Dubai Airport.
It isn’t known if Rice’s flight was direct to Dubai was expected to land at an alternate location.
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The conflict in the Middle East began while the former athlete was visiting family and friends in Australia.
The United States and Israel joined forces to take military action against Iran on February 28, resulting in retaliatory strikes by Iran on some of its neighbours, including Dubai.
After news of a drone strike in Dubai just hours later, Rice shared a post on Instagram alongside a statement from the Australian embassy, which read: “Please help me in praying for all my friends, loved ones and people in the UAE that they would be protected and feel a tangible sense of God peace in this scary situation.”
Rice moved to Dubai in November 2023 after meeting pastor Mark Lassey through mutual friends.
The couple tied the knot on January 10, 2025, after the father-of-three proposed at Dubai’s Atlantis Royal Hotel in September 2024.
Rice became a devout Christian after meeting Lassey and joined Kingdomcity Church in Dubai where Lassey, a father of three, works as Head Pastor.
Lassey had also shared a post on Instagram following the strike on Dubai, announcing that in-person services had been cancelled for the time being and will instead be run online.
”First and foremost we continue to pray safety, protection and supernatural peace over you and your families located in our region,” he wrote.
“While we deeply value meeting together, in light of the ongoing situation and Government advice to stay indoors, we have cancelled our 10:00am and 12:00pm in-person services tomorrow, 1 March 2026.
“Your safety is important to us and we believe this is the most sensible decision at this time.”
Lassey added: “Our Global family is praying fervently over all of us, our nation and this region so we are covered. Again, speaking joy over us – not just for us but those around us at this time. We look forward to being together online at 10:00am tomorrow morning.
“If you require any support or Prayer please reach out to your connect groups, to your leaders and any of the staff team if you need anything – particularly our family who are living on their own here.”
One of Rice and Lacey’s most recent posts is a joint post which reads: “The one I send will feel different – God.”
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Lassey has also shared photos showing him playing tennis amid the conflict.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong today urged Australian expats living in the Middle East to return home.
The foreign minister acknowledged leaving is a “big decision” but said those living in the region should book a flight back to Australia.
“Our advice is that you should, if you can secure a seat, you should leave,” she said.
“Please don’t wait until it is too late.
“We don’t want to see a situation where commercial flights – which are operating but obviously on a limited schedule – where they dry up.”
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