This regional war has become personal for people in the UAE.
Iran‘s strikes reached people’s homes in Dubai on day two of the conflict.
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The besieged nation has been retaliating by firing missiles and drones at Israel and at US military installations around the Gulf, and also at the Saudi capital and the global business hub of Dubai.
Intercepted drones have been seen falling from the sky into residential areas; people heard shouting in fear and disbelief.
One British citizen filmed broken glass and shrapnel that had burst through his living room window.
“No joking guys, we have just been hit by a drone. It stinks of oil in here,” he says as he records the damage.
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The UAE has intercepted hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones in the last 36 hours, but that hasn’t stopped some areas getting hit. Both airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were struck overnight.
The government confirmed three people have been killed and dozens more were injured.
The official advice is to shelter in place, but some people have decided to take matters into their own hands.
One family – a mother, grandmother and baby – that was staying at the Palm’s Fairmont hotel when it was hit, drove to a hotel in Oman.
“We had been in the lower ground floor of our hotel for many hours trying to decide what to do, and people were bringing in mattresses from the sunbeds to sleep in the corridors and trying to stay away from glass, and I just decided that the best idea was to try and get a car,” says Amy Vrothbarth.
“It feels a bit surreal to be honest because I never expected that to happen in Dubai.
“I feel very relieved that we are here. I’m glad that we did make the decision to leave.”
Oman was the only Gulf state spared in the first day of this war but the idea it might be immune to attacks was short-lived.
Two drones hit the port of Duqm around midday and air defences were filmed shooting incoming fire.
The move has shocked many in the region. Oman was widely seen as protected in this war due to its role as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Major infrastructure has also been hit in the UAE.
There was a large explosion at Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi in the middle of the day after a similar attack on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port overnight.
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The sight of clouds of smoke rising over the country’s coastline has caused great anxiety among residents as well as tourists.
Kanika Royer, who has lived in Dubai for two years, says she now feels deeply uncertain about her future in the country.
Her cousin, Dara Adebayo, who is visiting on holiday, is desperate to get home.
“We were on a boat when the Fairmont was hit. So we could see the missiles flying above the boat,” says Dara. “I’m going to go home as soon as possible.”
Air travel remains suspended until at least 3pm on Monday, but there’s very little expectation we will feel “normality” here again anytime soon.
The fear is this could be the new normal for this region.
