British influencers living in Dubai have faced criticism for continuing to share polished, luxury-focused social media content while missile strikes and regional tensions escalate. Among those called out is former Love Islander Arabella Chi, who has posted sun-drenched beach photos and romantic dinner snaps despite nearby incidents.
On February 28, US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran triggered retaliation, forcing Gulf airspace closures and leaving over 100,000 Britons stranded in Dubai. Falling debris caused fires at Fairmont The Palm, Dubai International Airport, and Jebel Ali Port, injuring four people. The UK Foreign Office described it as its biggest consular crisis since Covid, with around 138,000 Brits registered in the region.
Some influencers briefly shared fears before deleting posts, but others maintained a carefree tone. Content creator Mitchell Armstrong mocked those fleeing, saying in a video: “As long as I’ve still got my sauna and I’ve still got my G-Wagon … I don’t really care.” Influencer Soudi Al Nadak described Dubai as “very quiet and peaceful,” prompting a follower to accuse her of posting “government propaganda.”
Chi’s feed showed a stark contrast to the chaos. On March 3, three days after a fire at the Burj Al Arab, she posted a romantic dinner captioned “A forever kind of love.” Later, she shared beach snaps with her daughter, writing “Sandy toes.” Followers noted the quiet beach, with one asking, “Did everyone leave Dubai?” On March 9, after drone strikes near the airport, Chi promoted a luxury jewellery collaboration. On March 13, as debris hit a building in the Dubai International Financial Centre, she posed in a bikini on Jumeirah Beach.
The UAE has strict social media laws, warning against publishing rumours from unknown sources. The influencers’ posts have drawn accusations of sanitising reality amid ongoing conflict.
