Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, joined Dubai’s crown prince for a public stroll in a Dubai mall on Monday, a move seen as an attempt to reassure residents and maintain confidence after Iranian missile strikes hit the Gulf. At least three expat workers were killed and up to 68 injured by falling debris from intercepted airstrikes since Saturday. A dramatic explosion at the Fairmont hotel added to the spectacle.
Among the 250,000 British nationals in the UAE, reactions have been mixed. One financial services worker, only months into his Dubai life, heard the booms and shared a BBC video with colleagues, only to be told to delete it, as sharing unverified content is an imprisonable offence. The internet briefly went down. 'I think some Brits might have been reaching for the map for the first time to see exactly where they were living,' he said.
Back in the UK, schadenfreude has surfaced. A Daily Mail headline featuring socialite Petra Ecclestone read: 'I've never been hit by an Iranian missile on my way to Asda.' Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, referencing 'tax exiles,' said British protection should require them to pay taxes. Another headline declared 'End of the Dubai dream.'
However, some Brits insist it is business as usual. Justin Harper, editor of CEO Middle East, was on a road trip when the missiles came but felt the authorities had the situation under control. 'I don't want to sound blasé but it's business as usual for me,' he said, adding that schools were closed and many worked from home but the situation was returning to normal. 'There's a lot of envy about the Dubai lifestyle,' he noted.
While more than 100,000 British nationals registered their presence with the Foreign Office and some rushed to the Oman border to fly out, Harper believes the storm will be weathered quickly. The long-term implications for the British community in the UAE remain uncertain, but the rulers' safety-first pitch is being tested.
