Dubai, often promoted as a luxurious haven free from taxes, has long captivated international tourists with its opulent resorts, high-end shopping experiences, and striking architecture.
The city has become a popular destination for influencers, especially those specializing in luxury and travel, with some even receiving compensation to showcase its vibrant lifestyle.
Tragically, recent events have resulted in at least one fatality and several injuries, causing concern among the public.
Officials from the United Arab Emirates have assured both residents—of whom nearly 90% are expatriates—and visitors of their security.
The country’s air defense systems have been active, intercepting hundreds of drones and missiles since the outbreak of conflict over the past weekend.
“I understand that this is a frightening period for many residents,” expressed Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, in an interview with CNN.
“We don’t hear these types of loud sounds. But at the same time, those are sounds of interception.
“And where there has been damage â that has been primarily debris.”
Carina Rossi, a senior editor at nine.com.au, is staying at Atlantis – The Palm at the tip of the city’s Palm Jumeirah district and saw debris fall from the sky.
She and other hotel guests “panicked” and ran to the beach as the debris plummeted into the hotel pool.
”The debris didn’t explode, thankfully. But it was a loud bang, something I’d never heard before,” Rossi told nine.com.au.
Rossi and other guests were then woken to an alert which urged them to seek shelter amid imminent missile threats.
“When we got the alert at 12.30 we could instantly hear explosions in the distance,” she said.
Rossi is safe in her hotel.
Australian Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice, who lives in Dubai with her pastor husband, asked for prayers in this “scary situation”.
“Please help me in praying for all my friends, loved ones and people in the UAE that they would be protected,” she wrote on an Instagram Story.
Mikey Pembroke, who appeared on Married At First Sight and now lives and works in Dubai, shared footage on social media of a structure on fire near his home.
“I’ve just heard about 20 explosions above my apartment building,” he said in the clip shared to Instagram.
Cinzia Bianco, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Dubai’s reputation may never recover.
“This is Dubai’s ultimate nightmare, as its very essence depended on being a safe oasis in a troubled region,” Bianco wrote on X.
“There might be a way to be resilient, but there is no going back.”
The world is already witnessing the fallout from the attacks.
Australians who had flights booked to or through the UAE have had their travel plans thrown into chaos.
The UAE also shut its embassy in Tehran, Iran’s capital, on Sunday and withdrew its diplomats.
The move comes after years of efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran, as the nation shows no sign of stopping airstrikes over the UAE.
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