Russian-speaking UAE residents and tourists stranded in the country after Iranian strikes on sites in the Emirates describe a mix of alarming news and outwardly calm city life. They say air defense interceptions were heard in Dubai, debris fell in some districts, and the airspace closure left many unable to depart on March 1.
One interviewee, who had arrived in Dubai from Yerevan with her nine-year-old child for a two-week vacation, said she extended her apartment stay at her own expense after FlyDubai warned that her flight would likely be canceled. She said the Burj Khalifa area remained calm, pharmacies and services stayed open, and uncertainty was the hardest part.
Another Dubai resident said the incoming strikes began after midday on February 29 and continued through the night. According to her, one missile landed about 30 meters from her home in City Walk, causing a small fire at a construction site. She also spoke of drone damage at the airport, loud blasts near Jebel Ali, dimmed skyscraper lighting and the cancellation of some Ramadan events.
“There is neither panic nor emotional outbursts, only an automatic reaction: to take the necessary safety measures and follow the authorities’ recommendations,” said a student from Belgorod who has been living in Dubai for a second year.
He added that the metro and taxis were still running, although deliveries of water and groceries had slowed and large bottles had temporarily disappeared from apps. In his view, the situation mostly involved intercepted missiles and falling debris rather than large-scale attacks aimed directly at civilians.
Interviewees also described problems for transit passengers. A woman traveling with her husband from Bangkok to Tbilisi via Sharjah on February 28 said passengers were first kept on the plane, then told to disembark, and later sent into the city. An Air Arabia representative helped a group of Russian tourists obtain hotel accommodation, where they are still waiting for further information about their flight.