Trending Now - Dubai's Allure Dims as Expatriates Leave Amid Conflict Fears
WHO:
President Trump, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, French President Emmanuel Macron, Dubai Media Office, Ebrahim Zolfaqari (spokesperson for Iran's military command), John Trudinger (British Dubai resident), Zain Anwar (taxi driver), Kate Ferdinand, Luisa Zissman, Petra Ecclestone, Ben Moss (British influencer), US Central Command (Centcom).
WHAT:
Dubai's beaches, including Jumeirah Beach, were reported as desolate on March 13th, 2026, with facilities closing due to a lack of visitors.
A café manager from Pakistan stated, "The spring break for schoolchildren starts today and there is hardly a western child to be seen anywhere – their parents have all taken them home."
Four crew members were confirmed dead after an American refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq, as reported by the US Central Command (Centcom).
Two people were killed in Oman after a drone strike, and Saudi Arabia destroyed 28 drones in the latest attacks on the Gulf.
Dubai's International Finance Centre was targeted on March 13th, 2026, a day after a high-rise building was hit in a drone strike.
Four people were injured as two drones hit the terminal at Dubai's international airport on March 13th, 2026, leading to major airlines cancelling all flights to the region for weeks.
The price of oil rose rapidly this week, with predictions of reaching $200 a barrel due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's military command, stated, "Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security which you have destabilised."
Authorities in the UAE have charged 21 people with cyber crimes for circulating videos showing missiles and explosions, including a Brit who filmed missiles passing overhead.
The British embassy in the UAE warned that violations of laws against sharing images of incident sites may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation.
Content creators posting 'misinformation' face jail time, and those posting anything contradicting public announcements could face two years behind bars and a fine of £40,000.
Influencers in Dubai have been posting identical videos emphasizing the safety of the city, which have been seen millions of times.
John Trudinger, a British Dubai resident, stated, "The shine has definitely been taken off," referring to the impact of the conflict on the city.
Taxi driver Zain Anwar said, "I don’t want to be in Dubai any more, there is no business, we are earning nothing since this war, and I don’t see the tourism coming back."
On March 13th, 2026, a drone was caught on video sending up a huge pall of smoke near the airport, although the official Dubai Media Office insisted that "no incident" had occurred at the airport.
The Dubai Media Office claimed that "outdated images of past fire incidents" were being spread to stoke fear among residents.
Dubai's beaches, including Jumeirah Beach, have been reported as desolate, with facilities closing due to a lack of visitors.
A café manager from Pakistan stated, "I’ve never seen it like this before and everyone is worried what the future holds."
A local resident of Afghan-German nationality noted, "Normally on Friday, the traffic would be gridlocked and the restaurants and shops would be very busy, but the place is a ghost-town now."
Four crew members were confirmed dead after an American refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq, as reported by the US Central Command (Centcom).
Centcom announced that a KC-135 refuelling plane had gone down in "friendly airspace" and that two crew members remain missing.
Dubai has experienced a significant decline in tourism, with thousands of expats fleeing the city due to Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Dubai has been targeted by two-thirds of Iran's missiles, totaling 1,700 projectiles in two weeks, with 90% intercepted by air defenses.
Four people have been killed in Dubai since the conflict began.
The rental market in Dubai has collapsed, and enrollment at international schools has significantly decreased.
The price of oil has risen, with predictions of reaching $200 a barrel due to regional instability.
Authorities in the UAE have charged 21 people with cyber crimes for sharing videos of missile attacks.
WHERE:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Jumeirah Beach; Palm Jumeirah; Dubai International Finance Centre; Oman; Strait of Hormuz; Iraq; Erbil, Iraq.
WHEN:
The conflict began in early 2026, with significant events reported on March 13th, 2026.
The spring break for schoolchildren started on March 13th, 2026.
A drone strike on the Fairmont Hotel occurred earlier in 2026.
WHY:
The decline in tourism and exodus of residents are attributed to ongoing Iranian attacks and regional tensions.
The UAE government is attempting to maintain a positive image amid the conflict, leading to strict laws against sharing negative information.
HOW:
The UAE government has launched a public relations campaign, telling people the "big booms" in the sky are "the sound of us being safe" as the UAE air defense system takes action.
Influencers in Dubai have been posting identical videos emphasizing the safety of the city, which have been seen millions of times.
The British embassy in the UAE warned that British nationals are subject to UAE laws, stating that violations may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation.
Influencers in Dubai are reportedly being paid to promote positive messages about the UAE government and the safety of the city.
The UAE government has implemented strict laws against sharing information that could incite public panic, including fines and imprisonment for violations.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 03:43 UTC)
Dubai's beaches, including the popular Jumeirah Beach, were reported as nearly empty on March 13, with facilities closing due to a significant drop in visitors, as many families have taken their children home for spring break. In a troubling turn of events, four crew members died in a crash of an American refueling aircraft in Iraq, while two people were killed in Oman following a drone strike, and attacks in the region have led to a rise in oil prices, with predictions of reaching $200 a barrel. Amidst this turmoil, the UAE government has launched a public relations campaign to reassure residents, claiming that the "big booms" heard in the sky are merely the sounds of their air defense system in action.
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(UPDATED March 14, 2026 01:25 UTC)
In a concerning turn of events, Dubai's once-bustling beaches, including Jumeirah Beach, are now eerily quiet, with facilities closing due to a significant drop in visitors, prompting local business owners to express their worries about the future. Meanwhile, in Iraq, the US Central Command has confirmed that four crew members lost their lives in a crash involving a KC-135 refuelling aircraft, with two others still unaccounted for. As the situation unfolds, influencers in Dubai are attempting to reassure the public by sharing videos highlighting the city's safety, while the British embassy has reminded nationals that they must adhere to UAE laws, with violations potentially leading to serious consequences.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 23:09 UTC)
Dubai is facing a severe tourism crisis as thousands of expats flee the city in response to ongoing Iranian missile and drone attacks, which have targeted two-thirds of Iran's missiles, totaling 1,700 projectiles in just two weeks. Tragically, four people have lost their lives since the conflict began, and the rental market has collapsed alongside a significant drop in enrollment at international schools, while oil prices are predicted to soar to $200 a barrel due to the regional instability. In an effort to maintain a positive image, the UAE government has charged 21 individuals with cyber crimes for sharing videos of the attacks and is reportedly paying influencers to promote a sense of safety in Dubai.