Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have left the United Arab Emirates since the US and Israel began bombing Iran two weeks ago, leaving Dubai’s beach bars, malls and hotels eerily empty. The city, long a sanctuary of consumerism and a playground for the rich, now faces an existential threat as the war shakes the foundations of the “Dubai dream” that so many foreigners had bought into.
The UAE has borne the brunt of more than two-thirds of Iran’s strikes, targeted in part for its deep 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 significant targets, including military bases, industrial complexes and Dubai airport, briefly shutting down one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
“The shine has definitely been taken off,” said John Trudinger, a British resident of 16 years who employs over 100 teachers from the UK. Most have been so “deeply traumatised” that they have left and will not return. Zain Anwar, a taxi driver from Pakistan, saw his car destroyed in a strike on the Fairmont hotel. “I don’t want to be in Dubai any more,” he said. “Everybody knows that Dubai is finished.”
The economic consequences are likely to be significant. Tourism generates around $30bn annually, and over 90% of residents are foreigners. Unlike other Gulf emirates, Dubai lacks vast oil reserves. Analysts warn that if the war drags on, losses in tourism, aviation and expatriate businesses will be severe. Citibank and Standard Chartered have already evacuated employees due to “heightened security concerns”.
Dubai’s rulers have tried to control the narrative, threatening to jail social media influencers who share content “that may cause social panic”. Officials reassure residents that the “big booms” in the sky are “the sound of safety”. Yet the city’s large population of migrant workers, who largely lack the privilege to flee, face a stark reality as business dries up and the future remains uncertain.
