British Nationals Evacuate Dubai Following Iranian Missile Barrage
Hundreds of British expatriates and tourists in Dubai rushed to flee the city after Iran launched its initial missile assault on the United Arab Emirates. Social media footage captured holidaymakers sprinting for cover as missiles and drones illuminated the night sky. Meanwhile, desperate travellers flooded Dubai International Airport, hoping to secure seats on the next available flights out of the country.
Foreign Office Issues Travel Advisory Amid Escalating Conflict
The Foreign Office has advised against all non-essential travel to the UAE as Iran intensifies attacks across the Gulf region. This retaliation follows a major offensive by US and Israeli forces on February 28. The UAE's airspace was closed for several days after the attacks, grounding flights and stranding thousands of expatriates.
Influencers Defy Warnings to Return to Dubai
Despite ongoing travel restrictions and security concerns, social media influencers have been quick to return to Dubai. In recent days, TikTok creators have shared videos of themselves boarding nearly empty planes bound for the UAE, boasting about having entire rows or cabins to themselves.
One British influencer, using the username @vicsxjx, posted a travel vlog excitedly announcing, 'Fly back to Dubai with me'. In the video, she expressed happiness at seeing her flight on the departure board before showing clips of a deserted plane with dozens of empty seats. Another content creator shared a video drinking a cocktail onboard with the caption: 'Everyone leaving Dubai now... me flying in.'
TikToker Jade Wilson documented her journey to the UAE, showing desolate airport lounges and empty plane seats while commenting: 'Flying to Dubai right now... Totally empty... unsettling. I've never seen an empty Emirates flight.' Carina Najia shared her experience traveling back to Dubai after her original flight was cancelled, telling followers she felt anxious but thankful her rescheduled flight proceeded.
Accusations of Propaganda and Government Pressure
Several content creators living in Dubai have faced accusations of producing propaganda to maintain the city's pristine image. Influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers have responded to Iranian attacks by sharing images of Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum alongside the words: 'I know who protects us.'
Sceptical social media users have claimed these influencers are being paid by the UAE government, although several have denied receiving compensation. Content creators in Dubai require government licences to operate, and authorities have threatened prison sentences for anyone sharing information that 'results in inciting panic among people.'
This tough stance appears to have encouraged self-censorship among influencers, with earlier clips of Iranian drone and missile attacks now overshadowed by posts praising the regime. There seems to be a deliberate effort to avoid mentioning the war directly, with content creators adopting the sanitised language used by city leadership.
Government Crackdown on Information Sharing
During the conflict's initial days, the government cracked down on citizen journalists reposting genuine footage of attacks, including a drone strike on the five-star Fairmont Hotel on Palm Jumeirah. The Dubai Media Office quickly claimed that 'outdated images of past fire incidents' were being circulated to stoke fear among residents.
Dubai has launched a public relations campaign describing the 'big booms' in the sky as 'the sound of us being safe' when UAE air defence systems engage. Authorities have charged 21 people with cyber crimes for circulating videos showing missiles and explosions, including a British national who filmed missiles passing overhead and deleted the footage when requested.
Content creators posting 'misinformation' face potential jail time, and police announced that those contradicting public announcements and 'causing public panic' could receive two-year prison sentences and £40,000 fines.
British Expats Express Fear and Uncertainty
Some British expatriates have declared they will leave Dubai permanently due to safety concerns as Iranian missiles continue to strike. John Trudinger, a British Dubai resident of 16 years, told The Guardian: 'The shine has definitely been taken off.' The headteacher employs over 100 UK teachers at his Emirati school and claims most are 'deeply traumatised and really struggling to cope' with the war, having fled with no intention of returning.
Taxi driver Zain Anwar saw his vehicle destroyed in a missile attack and said his family is begging him to return to Pakistan. He explained: 'I don’t want to be in Dubai any more, there is no business, we are earning nothing since this war, and I don’t see the tourism coming back. A lot of taxi drivers like me, we are thinking of going to a different country now. Everybody knows that Dubai is finished.'
Iran has continued its assault on the city, launching approximately 1,700 projectiles over two weeks, although UAE officials report that 90 percent have been intercepted by air defence systems.
