Mike Babayan, a 23-year-old influencer from Los Angeles, was in a hookah lounge when he heard explosions on Saturday night after Iranian missiles struck Dubai. Despite emergency messages urging residents to take shelter, Babayan noted that most people quickly returned to their activities. He moved from his home in the Burj Khalifa to a safer location but observed others casually drinking coffee amid the strikes.
Babayan, who documents his day-trading lifestyle to 150,000 TikTok followers, shifted his content to comment on the attacks. He debunked an AI-generated video showing the Burj Khalifa on fire and claimed Dubai remained safer than New York, Los Angeles, or London, citing the ability to wear a $60,000 watch without fear of theft.
Other influencers also documented the events. British travel influencer Will Bailey, with nearly 500,000 followers, posted videos from a beach club as missiles fell near the Fairmont The Palm hotel, while a visiting influencer filmed from a yacht party. One British entrepreneur complained online about grounded flights disrupting her meetings, drawing criticism for perceived entitlement.
Dr Sreya Mitra, a mass communication professor at the American University of Sharjah, noted that Indian influencers in Dubai are countering exaggerated reports from Indian news channels by reinforcing a narrative of normalcy. The UAE reported three deaths and 68 injuries since the war began, with most missiles intercepted, though the Fairmont hotel and airports sustained damage.
