Troubled Skies Over Dubai
The US-Israel war on Iran started on February 28, and Iran’s retaliation includes targeting the UAE and the rest of the GCC countries with daily missile and drone attacks, the UAE being the most targeted so far.
Needless to say, it’s been a mostly stressful week receiving daily alerts from the government to stay indoors and hearing explosions of intercepted missiles/drones launched from Iran towards the Dubai. Some are louder than others, I live near the airport which is one of the targets.
I went for a walk in my neighbourhood on March 2nd, it was a quiet afternoon. Not seeing airplanes flying out of Dubai International Airport reminded me of the first few months of the pandemic. All flights were cancelled since February 28, but a resumed a few days later. But I was comforted by the sight of birds, for me a sign that things are ok. For now at least.
It’s also been a week of countless Dubai bashing articles in mostly British media, underlying racism in many of them, and plenty of fake images thanks to the proliferation of AI.
“There are three types of people in Dubai right now: those off to play padel, those rushing to the Omani border, and those waiting for house prices to drop.”
— by Sally Lockwood, from an article titled ‘We’ve taught toddlers to take cover’: Living in Dubai as Iran attacks (Sky News)
Other types of people in Dubai the western media does overlooks - the ones who do not have the luxury or time to play padel, or the option to leave the country.
I’ve saved a lot of these Dubai bashing articles and hope I can find the headspace to write something more about them.
For now I want to say the UAE military and government are doing the best they can to keep us all safe and communicating latest developments.
Wishing safety for all, and thinking of friends and family of friends across the region who are suffering because of this war.
Thankful I can still hear sounds of birds from my room.
