"I had just gotten back from visiting a friend from graduate school and her family at a beach club at the base of The Palm Jumeirah. An afternoon meant to be spent enjoying the beach and the cool waters during one of the Gulf's best times of year, quickly turned into one of spotting numerous missiles in the sky as they were being intercepted by the United Arab Emirates' defense system."
"After an intense few hours filled with worry, I had gone down to the beach at my home to watch the sunset and try to find a moment of calm. Others had done the same. A fisherman stood with his line in the water. Couples walked by the water's edge as the evening light shimmered on the waves. Others lounged by the pool. For a moment, it looked like any other Saturday."
"Then, without warning, a fast-moving ball of fire flew over our heads and our building. Instinct took over. We ran for the basement, breathless, confused, scared, and frustrated."
Rebecca Anne Proctor, a journalist residing in Dubai for 17 years, witnessed missile and drone attacks on the UAE following US strikes on Iran. While enjoying a beach afternoon with friends, she observed explosions at the Fairmont Hotel, then watched as intercepted missiles filled the sky. Despite the chaos and fear—running to basement shelters as fireballs passed overhead—Proctor describes a community attempting normalcy amid crisis. Fishermen continued their work, couples walked the shoreline, and residents gathered on beaches seeking calm moments. The attacks disrupted the peaceful evening but did not fundamentally alter her sense of security or appreciation for her life in the Emirates.
Read at Business Insider
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