Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have fled Dubai since the US and Israel began bombing Iran two weeks ago, leaving the city's beach bars, malls and hotels eerily empty. The United Arab Emirates has borne the brunt of more than two-thirds of Iran's missile strikes, targeting the state for its military partnerships with western powers and Dubai's reputation as a global finance and tourism hub.
“The shine has definitely been taken off,” said John Trudinger, a British headteacher who has lived in Dubai for 16 years. He employs over 100 teachers from the UK, most of whom have left and won't return, deeply traumatised by the sudden arrival of war. Daily alerts warn of “potential missile threats”, and while over 90% of Iranian projectiles have been intercepted, some have struck significant targets including Dubai airport and the Fairmont hotel on the Palm Jumeirah.
Zain Anwar, a taxi driver from Pakistan, saw his car destroyed in the Fairmont strike. “I am the luckiest person in the world to have survived,” he said. “But now my family are telling me to come home. Everybody knows that Dubai is finished.” Many migrant workers lack the privilege to flee, and taxi drivers report earning nothing since the conflict began.
The economic consequences are severe, particularly for Dubai where tourism generates around $30bn annually. Over 90% of residents are foreigners, including a high concentration of billionaires attracted by tax-free living. Unlike other Gulf emirates, Dubai lacks vast oil reserves. Analysts warn that if the war drags on, losses in tourism, aviation and real estate will be stark. Citibank and Standard Chartered have already evacuated employees.
Dubai's rulers have tried to control the narrative, with police threatening to arrest social media influencers who share content causing panic. Officials reassure residents that the “big booms” are “the sound of safety”. Yet beach bars, malls and hotels remain empty, and the long-term viability of the “Dubai dream” is now in question.
