Former Apprentice contestant Luisa Zissman has publicly shared her frustrations after returning to the United Kingdom from her home in Dubai earlier this week. The 38-year-old reality television star, who relocated to the United Arab Emirates in December with two of her three children and her Irish millionaire husband Andrew Collins, described herself as entering "my refugee era, displaced from my home" in a social media post.
Sudden Departure Amid Regional Tensions
Zissman, who has been among the most vocal Dubai-based influencers supporting the UAE government—even declaring it the "safest country in the world" last week—made the decision to travel back to Britain on Monday. She explained to her 712,000 Instagram followers that she had always planned to return this week to record episodes of her LuAnna podcast but decided to bring her daughters, nine-year-old Indigo Esme and Clementine, over concerns they might not be able to return to Dubai later.
Contrasting Experiences: Dubai Safety vs. London Anxiety
In a video posted to Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning while walking to work in London's Chinatown district, Zissman expressed visible anxiety about her surroundings. "I'm really paranoid someone is going to steal my phone," she admitted, before contrasting her experience with what she described as a "very, very easy" departure from the Middle East via Oman.
"We went through Oman, took us about 15 minutes to get through the border then flew out from Muscat to Heathrow," she detailed, while simultaneously complaining about the British weather: "I'm very f**king cold and it's very grey."
Celebrity Exodus from Dubai
Zissman's return comes amid a growing exodus of British celebrities and influencers from Dubai following increased regional tensions. The UAE has reported that Iran has fired 238 ballistic missiles at their territory since US-Israeli strikes began, with most intercepted but some causing significant damage.
Notable incidents include a night drone attack on two upmarket Dubai areas that left one man dead and residential skyscrapers in flames, along with the temporary closure of Dubai International Airport after a suspected Iranian drone strike triggered an explosion nearby.
Mixed Responses from Influencers
The situation has created divided responses among Dubai-based influencers. While some continue to assert they feel safe, others have openly discussed their fear during the missile strikes. Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison and her husband Ercan Ramadan recently shared their 11-hour journey across the border to Oman in a bid to return to the UK after multiple cancelled flights.
Pattison explained their decision: "We really appreciate all your messages of concern and just wanted to reassure everyone that we're fine. After 3 cancelled flights... we wanted to try and get home as quickly and safely as possible."
Financial and Logistical Challenges
For those remaining in Dubai, the situation presents significant challenges. Influencer Lily Mann, 25, who arrived in Dubai with her boyfriend on February 26 for a week-long holiday, now faces a £3,000 bill in extended hotel expenses while stranded. Their Etihad Airways flight to Manchester was cancelled, with alternative flights costing upwards of £10,000 per person.
"We have been very, very unlucky and people who have got out have been very lucky," Mann told the Daily Mail, highlighting the scarcity of available flights.
Broader Security Context
The regional instability has prompted international responses, including reports that the UK has halved the readiness time for aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales ahead of possible deployment to the region. This development underscores the seriousness of the security situation that has prompted Zissman and others to reconsider their presence in the UAE.
Despite her current displacement rhetoric, Zissman had assured followers just five days before her departure that "everything is fine" in Dubai. Her dramatic shift in tone highlights how quickly circumstances have changed for British expatriates and visitors in the region, forcing difficult decisions about safety, family, and future plans.
