"For years, the city has presented itself as a sanctuary for capital and stability, a place of order and predictability in a volatile region, insulated from the political storms that shape its neighbouring countries. That illusion held until sunset."
"Shortly after dusk, the first Iranian drones and missiles approached the Gulf states in retaliation. Air defences in the United Arab Emirates, as well as in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, activated in response, interceptors streaking into the night sky."
"Several tourists said they were caught completely off guard. There were no air raid sirens and while residents with local phone numbers began receiving official alerts, others did not immediately understand what was happening. At first we thought it was fireworks."
Dubai maintained its weekend routines with beach clubs at capacity and shopping centers full while a major regional conflict intensified across the Gulf. When Iranian drones and missiles approached in retaliation, air defenses activated across UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Residents and tourists were caught unprepared, with no air raid sirens and confusion about what was occurring. A drone strike caused fire at the Fairmont The Palm resort. The city's carefully constructed image as a stable, insulated sanctuary from regional political turmoil was disrupted by the direct military threat, revealing the fragility of its separation from surrounding conflicts.
#dubai-security #middle-east-conflict #regional-military-escalation #urban-vulnerability #iran-retaliation
Read at www.theguardian.com
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