British Expat in Dubai Reveals Greater Fear Than Missile Explosions
While approximately a quarter of a million British nationals reside in Dubai, maintaining outward calm amid ongoing Iranian drone and missile bombardment, one expat has shared her harrowing experience. Poppy Owen, originally from North Wales, has lived in the exclusive Damac Hills area for three years, close to the UAE's Minhad Airbase.
The Real Danger: Falling Debris From Intercepted Missiles
During the height of weekend attacks, Owen described how her body "just went into pure fear and anxiety" as explosions echoed nearby. However, she emphasizes that the explosions themselves weren't her primary concern. "It's not the explosions that were something to be worried about," she explains. "It was more the debris that when the explosions happened, it was the debris falling down onto buildings and things and places, that was the thing that we should be scared of most."
This fear stems from her proximity to Minhad Airbase, which launches a significant portion of Dubai's defensive weaponry against incoming drones and missiles. The very protection system designed to safeguard the city creates additional hazards for those living nearby.
Protecting Children During the Attacks
Owen has taken extraordinary measures to protect her two young daughters during the attacks. On multiple occasions, she has ushered them into their bathroom for safety from potential flying glass. To prevent panic, she has attempted to convince them that the regular bangs and flashes in the sky are part of a special fireworks display.
"They were reassured that it was just fireworks and nothing to worry about whereas my body just went into pure fear and anxiety because this is too close for comfort," she says. "It's like 'How can it be that loud? It must be somewhere quite close.'"
The attacks occurred with alarming frequency, with Owen noting explosions happening approximately every ten minutes. "We live next to an airbase in Damac Hills – that's no secret – and what's happening is that they are firing missiles from the air base next to us, out towards the attacks coming in."
Dubai's Defensive Shield and Damage Assessment
While Dubai's defensive systems have intercepted the majority of incoming drones and missiles, some strikes have penetrated the city's defenses. Several iconic structures have sustained damage, including:
- The Fairmont The Palm hotel in the luxury Palm Jumeirah development
- The Burj Al Arab, one of Dubai's most recognizable landmarks
- Dubai International Airport, reportedly struck by a drone
- Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, where one fatality occurred
- The US Embassy in Dubai, also hit by a drone
Yasser Elsheshtawy, a professor of architecture at Columbia University who lived in Dubai for two decades, told the BBC that even limited successful strikes have damaged the city's carefully cultivated image. "When you begin to see plumes of smoke rising in the city and sounds of explosion in some of the most exclusive places, that shatters that image of Dubai as this haven of security and safety."
The academic warned that structural damage to landmark buildings could have lasting reputational consequences, suggesting the city "will suffer for years to come."
Life Under Attack: Lockdown Conditions Return
Owen describes living conditions reminiscent of Covid-19 lockdowns, with her family mostly confined indoors following government instructions to stay inside and close windows. "We were just indoors because that's what we got told to do. We got told by the government to stay indoors and close our windows, and then all day really it was just hearing the missiles and stuff like that being shot out."
The constant tension has created a state of hypervigilance. "We were just waiting for the bang, and then any bangs that were happening and shaking the villa doors, at that point we were like, 'Right, we need to get into the bathroom and just protect the children.'"
Information has been scarce beyond official government statements and the audible evidence of outgoing defensive missiles. Although Owen and her husband have discussed potentially leaving the country, they have decided to remain for now. "To be honest, the best thing you can do is just stay indoors in the comfort of your own home with all your essentials and ride it out."
The British expat community in Dubai continues to navigate this dangerous situation, balancing confidence in the UAE's defense systems with the very real dangers posed by both incoming attacks and the defensive measures meant to stop them.
