Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have left the United Arab Emirates since the US and Israel started bombing Iran two weeks ago, leaving beach bars, malls and hotels eerily empty. The city of Dubai, built as a sanctuary of consumerism, now faces an existential threat as the war shakes the foundations of the 'Dubai dream'.
The UAE has borne the brunt of more than two-thirds of Iran’s strikes, targeted in part for its military and intelligence partnerships with western powers. Daily alerts warn of 'potential missile threats', and more than 90% of Iranian projectiles have been intercepted, but some have hit military bases, industrial complexes, Dubai airport, and datacentres, briefly disrupting digital payments.
John Trudinger, a British headteacher in Dubai for 16 years, said most of his 100 UK teachers have left, 'deeply traumatised and really struggling to cope'. Zain Anwar, a Pakistani taxi driver whose car was destroyed in a strike on the Fairmont hotel, said: 'Everybody knows that Dubai is finished.'
Tourism generates around $30bn annually in Dubai, where over 90% of residents are foreigners. Analysts warn of significant financial losses if the war drags on. Citibank and Standard Chartered have evacuated Dubai employees due to 'heightened security concerns'.
Dubai’s rulers have threatened to jail social media influencers who share content causing 'social panic', while officials reassure residents that 'big booms' are 'the sound of safety'. Despite the empty beaches and malls, some residents continue life as usual.
