Residents in Dubai, including many British expatriates, have received emergency alerts warning of potential missile threats amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Mobile phone alerts sent to people across the city urged residents to seek immediate shelter and wait for further instructions as the security situation unfolded. The warnings came as Iran launched what has been described as one of its most intense waves of missile attacks across the region.
Dubai has already experienced several drone interceptions, with falling debris reportedly landing near major landmarks including the Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah, causing fires that were later brought under control.
One British expatriate, identified only as Martyn, described the tension in the city after receiving multiple alerts on his phone. “We have received two alerts just now. We also had another two last night,” he said. “It’s a very, very tense situation. It’s very hard to assess here, being in the eye of the storm. There’s no way to understand it.”
Martyn said the situation on the ground has left many residents anxious about the possibility of missile strikes. “Being on the ground is very nerve-wracking. Many think the missiles would pass but I think it is best to find shelter because you can never really tell what might happen,” he said.
The warnings come as Iran continues retaliatory strikes across the Middle East following the killing of Ali Khamenei during a military operation known as Operation Epic Fury.
Martyn said the constant emergency alerts have been frightening for many people living in the city. “To be honest, it scares the crap out of me. But it’s designed to. You can’t just stop it or turn it off, so it’s very effective,” he said.
He added that the disruption appears to be affecting residents across the United Arab Emirates, noting that friends in nearby Abu Dhabi had also experienced multiple missile interceptions. “My friend lives in Abu Dhabi and he got hit hard – there were 15 intercepts recently,” he said. “It feels like the Iranians are trying to take pot shots because it causes lots of disruption.”
