Former Apprentice contestant Luisa Zissman has provided a fresh update from Dubai, reassuring her followers that "everything is fine" during a Wednesday dog walk. Zissman is among numerous celebrities who have relocated to the United Arab Emirates in recent years, drawn by its tax-free lifestyle and sunny climate. The response from those reporting from the emirate has been mixed, with some influencers and reality stars stating they feel "safe," while others openly discuss their fear during the recent missile strikes.
Conflicting Reports from Dubai Residents
Ant Middleton was one of the few individuals attempting to return to Dubai today, sharing updates from his journey as he sought to reunite with his family. Some passenger flights have now been reinstated, allowing travel in and out of the area after airlines grounded all flights and shut airports earlier this week. On her Instagram Story, Luisa Zissman revealed she also plans to return to the UK for work but expressed concern about being unable to get back to Dubai.
She stated: "The situation here seems to be fine to be honest, the children have broken up one week early from school. I was due back to the UK on Monday for work so hoping that can happen. Can see lots of passenger planes in the sky. I'm worried if I come back to the UK for work I won't be able to get back to Dubai, so will take the children with me and see my parents too." Zissman also shared a video while out with her dog, telling fans she was "loving life" and could hear passenger planes flying overhead.
Ant Middleton's Successful Return Journey
Posting snaps from his journey, Ant Middleton shared a selfie while seated in an airport lounge, revealing his plan to try and get back to Dubai. The 45-year-old shared a photo of a nearly empty plane, appearing to be one of only a few making the trip back towards the UAE. He later confirmed his journey had been successful, writing: "Landed! Back in Dubai with Emilie and the kids." Middleton has five children, including four with his current wife Emilie and one from a previous relationship. Upon returning home, he posted a picture with one of his daughters.
Yasmine Zweegers' Narrow Escape
Meanwhile, Made in Chelsea star Yasmine Zweegers revealed she narrowly avoided the trouble in Dubai after spending most of the month there. The 26-year-old had been supporting her professional tennis player boyfriend, Julian Cash, who played in the Qatar Open. Cash competed in the doubles tournament with fellow Brit Lloyd Glasspool; the pair were No. 1 seeds but lost in the final. Zweegers updated her followers on how they caught the last flight before the airspace closed.
She said: "So grateful for a beautiful February in Doha & Dubai, such special memories were made. We ended up catching the last flight back to London before the airspace closed, booking it just hours before without even realising. Crazy how timing works sometimes. Thinking of everyone who's been affected and sending so much love."
Social Media Campaigns and Underlying Anxiety
Dubai expats have been flooding social media with posts insisting the country remains the "safest place on Earth" as frightened holidaymakers and British nationals scramble for flights home, with some families paying up to £100,000 for private jets. This extraordinary online campaign comes despite Iranian missiles and suicide drones striking across the region, leaving airports disrupted, flights cancelled, and thousands of ordinary Britons desperate to get home.
While the United Arab Emirates government insists its air defences are successfully intercepting most incoming attacks, behind carefully curated Instagram posts lies a far more anxious reality. Influencers are allegedly terrified to speak openly for fear of deportation, jail, or losing their homes. Speaking to one content creator in Dubai, it was revealed: "People are scared to say anything negative. Influencers have huge followings and they know they're being watched. Many feel they've been warned not to create panic online."
Legal Consequences and Official Messaging
In the UAE, criticising the government, spreading rumours, or damaging the country's reputation can carry fines of up to £200,000 or prison sentences of up to five years, followed by deportation. The result, critics say, is an atmosphere where influencers and celebrities are careful to echo the official message that Dubai remains calm and open for business. Several well-known British influencers, including Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, have publicly defended the emirate as safe in recent days.
However, others have now revealed their desperation at trying to fly home, offering a glimpse into the true scale of fear in the Gulf. Former Love Island star Laura Anderson, 36, managed to secure a flight to Edinburgh along with her two-year-old daughter Bonnie. The influencer, who was visiting her sister, told followers she was "praying for safe skies."
Flight Cancellations and Government Warnings
Posting before her plane took off, Anderson said: "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 flies) 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 came on, so I'm feeling positive." She appeared to then qualify her words, adding: "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."
Meanwhile, fellow Love Islander Sam Gowland 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 night's flight again cancelled for the third time, somehow managed to find another one for 10am this morning! Fourth time lucky, let's see." Within hours of the first retaliatory Iranian missile strikes on Saturday, the Dubai Media Office issued a stark warning about social media posts showing fires and damage in the city.
Official Narratives and Personal Experiences
Officials claimed "outdated images of past incidents" were being shared to spread fear, stating: "Legal action will be taken against those who publish or republish such content in violation of UAE law." Meanwhile, the UAE's The National newspaper reported on Wednesday that it was "business as usual" in old Dubai. A piece read: "The traditional souqs... are bustling, as visitors inspect wares, seek out discounts and take photos in front of the spice market. Labubus and Dubai-branded chocolates tempt tour groups from around the world. There is no visible sign of fear."
Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, 38, told her followers reports of Dubai "being bombed" were "hyperbolic." She added: "Currently what we've been advised through government channels is that they are intercepting missiles competently and efficiently and what has subsequently caused damage and tragically harm is falling debris." Meanwhile, former Apprentice contestant Luisa Zissman, who relocated to Dubai with her family, described it as "the safest country in the world."
Underlying Concerns and Preparations
However, the 38-year-old also admitted hearing explosions and revealed she had prepared her basement in case of emergency. Sharing an update with followers, she said: "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." British socialite and influencer Petra Ecclestone, 37, seemed to depart from the official script when she told her followers: "We came to Dubai to feel safe, and we finally felt like we were settling in, and now this has happened."
But she then posted in her Instagram stories: "This is what safety feels like. This is what resilience looks like. This is UAE." The contrasting narratives highlight the complex reality faced by expats and visitors in Dubai during this period of regional tension, where public assurances often mask private anxieties and logistical challenges.
