Iranian missile strikes targeted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) region over the weekend, and has left tourists in some of Dubai’s most prestigious hotels forced to swap their suites for basement floors and parking garages.
The glamorous city, world-renowned for its five-star hospitality and influencer hotspots, saw its luxury lifestyle status change this weekend.
The disruption began in the early hours of the morning when hotels across the city initiated emergency evacuation protocols. At Fairmont The Palm, located on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, guests were woken in the middle of the night and instructed to move to lower ground for their safety.
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Social media footage quickly emerged showing hundreds of visitors and influencers, many still carrying their designer handbags huddled in underground levels.
Consequently, basement floors which are reserved for vehicles were transformed into makeshift sleeping areas, with mattresses laid out as guests waited for an official “all-clear.”
First-hand accounts
Mia Plainer, a hotel guest documented the shift from luxury to survival online on YouTube. Having spent Saturday on a boat, she witnessed missiles in the sky before returning to the Palm Beach Jumeirah, where she was subsequently evacuated to the car park.
“It was the craziest experience I have ever witnessed,” she noted, describing a scene where guests stayed in the basement shelter from midnight until 5 am.
Tourists also reported receiving air raid alerts directly to their smartphones.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday that its air defences had been heavily engaged, intercepting 165 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles and over 540 Iranian drones.
Despite officials stating that all attacks on Saturday were successfully intercepted, falling debris caused significant damage. Fires were reported at several landmark locations, including the outer facade of the Burj Al Arab and the Jebel Ali Port, a vital shipping hub.
Moreover, Dubai International Airport sustained damage, resulting in four employees being injured and thousands of travellers being stranded due to temporary airspace closures.
While life in Dubai is now slowly returning to normal, the weekend’s events serve as a stark reminder of how regional conflicts can abruptly impact even the most secure global destinations.
Authorities say they will continue to monitor the situation closely as the city begins repairs on its damaged infrastructure.
