Between Fear And Faith: Dubai’s Expats Refuse To Leave The UAE Dream Amid Iran Attacks

Last Updated:March 12, 2026, 22:18 IST

Security—both financial and personal—is under attack in these parts. Iran is choosing its targets carefully to exact a price from the Gulf allies of the USA

“Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal."

As I landed in Dubai, the message from Dubai Media authorities flashed. It appeared that the aircraft I was travelling in was trying to land around the same time as this drone attack. But there was no announcement midair, nothing as we crossed immigration and collected our luggage… as the official word said, “Air traffic operated as normal." The only difference I could note till this point was that the airport looked empty. Starkly empty from my previous visits. Transiting through Dubai previously, I had felt the escalators were too small for the crowd, the aisles too packed, and the terminal buildings too huge to figure out within the transit hours. But this time I was at the exit in no time. The crowd came into focus only at the exit gate, and also the realisation that drones had struck. “Yehin rukiye madam…drone aaya hai," a worker responded in Hindi when I asked how to get a taxi. Before he could answer my follow-up question, a fellow worker jumped in. “All is ok… no problem… just wait a bit and they will take you," he said even as he took the first worker to the side.

Through the rest of the trip, this came back to me over and over again from various expats. “All is ok… nothing to worry," said an entrepreneur who left Prayagraj 20 years ago and made Dubai his home. “My duty is towards my wife and child and then to the country that has adopted me," he said when I asked if he was scared after more reports about targeting of a residential area and a building in Dubai Harbour locality came in.

A doctor turned jewellery designer was more forthcoming. “This fear of the unknown is making me anxious," she said but quickly added, “but I have faith in the government here. We bounced back after Covid; I’m sure we will bounce back this time too."

A taxi driver from Pakistan didn’t bat an eyelid before declaring, “The expats from Europe might be thinking about their next move but those from India and Pakistan will never abandon the UAE, which has given them a much better life than what they left behind."

Security—both financial and personal—is under attack in these parts. Iran is choosing its targets carefully to exact a price from the Gulf allies of the USA. The war has gone on for 2 weeks now, surpassing the 12-day limit of the escalation last year. The streets are relatively empty as school holidays have been extended and work from home has been announced. The hospitality sector is seeing a dip, and some are concerned about the real estate market. There is uncertainty about when and how the process of bounce-back will begin.

But for now, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah announce in unison—"Not giving up on the UAE dream yet!"

News world Between Fear And Faith: Dubai’s Expats Refuse To Leave The UAE Dream Amid Iran Attacks

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