A ground-level perspective from The Dubai Nomad.
The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world, and yes, Dubai is pretty safe right now. That is my honest verdict, and I say that as someone who has been on the ground here during the first six days of the current conflict.
There are a lot of opinions flying around online from people who have never set foot in this city. I have, and I want to give you a clear, no-nonsense account of what things actually look like from here.
What I Saw on the Ground
People are moving on with their lives.
Yes, precautions are being taken, but the streets are not empty as portrayed, and the city is not in a state of panic. People are walking around, visiting malls, eating out, and going about their daily routines, especially residents.
Related: Caught in the Middle: What It’s Really Like to Be a Tourist in Dubai During the Iran-US/Israel War
The main visible change is that several major tourist attractions have been temporarily closed as a precaution, which makes sense.
In the midst of all the chaos, I personally never felt like my life was in immediate danger. In fact, I ended up exploring more than I usually would on a normal trip to Dubai.
I took a memorable trip up north to visit Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven Emirates in the UAE.
Because the usual spots were closed, I had to get creative, which led to some genuinely interesting experiences I might otherwise have missed.
The Misinformation Problem
One of the most frustrating things about this whole situation has been watching the amount of misinformation, rumours, and outright exaggerations circulating online.
It seems like the people who are furthest from Dubai have the strongest opinions about what is happening here.
I have also seen people online criticising the UAE government for threatening to fine anyone who posts misinformation. And I have to ask, in what world would you want misinformation during a conflict to be acceptable?
Also, when you are in Rome, you do as the Romans do.
The UAE achieving its level of security and stability that we praise has been done over the years through firm governance, and that includes controlling the narrative during a crisis. You may not agree with every aspect of that approach, but the results speak for themselves.
I mean, where else can you leave your phone unattended in a restaurant, and come hours later, finding it there?
Why Dubai Will Always Protect Its Tourism
Here is something worth understanding about Dubai: tourism is one of the backbones of the UAE’s economy.
The government has invested enormously in both internal security and defence capabilities, and protecting visitors is very much part of that investment.
Closing the airspace and shutting down major attractions where large groups of tourists gather was necessary. It was a calculated move to keep people safe.
Will Tourism Take a Hit?
Absolutely.
This situation could take days, weeks, or even months to fully resolve, and some travellers will for sure reconsider the UAE as a travel destination, at least in the short term.
I spoke to a member of staff at my hotel, and they confirmed a significant drop and cancellations in bookings, with the industry bracing for a difficult period ahead.
I do believe eventually, they will bounce back.
My Repatriation Experience
I was successfully repatriated by Emirates, and I have to say they handled the whole situation well. I was a bit stressed out in the beginning, as I had to think of how to sustain myself for the foreseeable future if I could not get out.
Btw, if I were going to stay longer, I would have covered my accommodation. The news going around that the government was covering costs did not apply in Dubai. I think that was seen more so in Abu Dhabi.
The process to rebook my flight was smooth, there were no extra charges, and the communication was clear.
Governments and airlines in the region have been running repatriation flights to get citizens and residents of other countries back home safely, and from my experience, that has been well managed considering the frantic position that they find themselves in.
So, Should You Travel to Dubai Right Now?
Right now, the airspace is still restricted, so travelling there is not straightforward. But when this conflict ends, and I do believe it will, Dubai will still be one of the best and safest travel destinations in the world.
Nothing about what I experienced changed my view on that.
Would I go back? Without a second thought.
In fact, if the airspace reopened tomorrow and the war was over, I would be on the next flight.
These are my thoughts and my opinions, from someone who was actually there!
