American tourist stranded in Dubai amid Iran’s bombardment says she won’t be back — ‘the universe was trying to tell us something’

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has marketed itself to international visitors for years as a sunlit, secure, tax-free haven.

That tranquil image was shattered on Saturday when Iranian missiles and drones rained down on Dubai, igniting a five-star resort, endangering the world’s tallest structure, and leaving one person dead and seven injured at the airport in the capital Abu Dhabi.

Iran targeted the UAE and several neighboring countries as it retaliated amid an ongoing conflict, sparking fear and chaos in a region that had been reliably peaceful until Saturday.

“This is Dubai’s worst nightmare—its very identity rested on being a safe haven in a turbulent region,” Cinzia Bianco, a Persian Gulf expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote on X. “Resilience may be possible, but there’s no going back to how things were.”

Government officials sought to reassure residents and tourists that the nation’s air defense system ranks among the global top tier, having shot down numerous drones and missiles.

“I recognize this is a frightening period for many residents,” Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, told CNN. “We aren’t accustomed to such loud noises. But these are the sounds of interception—any damage reported has mainly come from debris.”

The attacks’ aftermath has weakened the UAE’s attempts to de-escalate tensions with Iran, even amid longstanding mistrust of its Gulf neighbor. On Saturday, the UAE closed its airspace; on Sunday, it shut its Tehran embassy and recalled its diplomats in response to the strikes.

“This decision reflects our unwavering stance against any aggression targeting our security and sovereignty,” the UAE Foreign Ministry stated. It labeled the attacks an “aggressive, provocative act” that endangers the region.

This oil-rich federation of seven emirates has leveraged its reputation as a tranquil destination to attract affluent tourists, business professionals, and potential residents seeking a largely tax-free, luxurious lifestyle in the desert by the sea. Approximately 90% of its estimated 11 million inhabitants are foreign nationals.

Real estate companies market gleaming high-rises and poolside villas to wealthy Europeans and Americans, emphasizing the UAE’s pleasant climate, business-friendly regulations, and status as one of the world’s safest locations.

However, after hundreds of drone and missile strikes, that reputation has been severely shaken.

“Last night felt incredibly surreal,” said Jamie Osborne, a British racehorse trainer in Dubai for Emirates Super Saturday. “You’re standing in the paddock, watching missiles being intercepted mid-air.”

The UAE Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that its air defenses had neutralized 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and over 540 Iranian drones over two days.

Though officials reported intercepting all air strikes on Saturday, debris from downed weapons ignited fires at some of Dubai’s most iconic sites.

Social media videos and images captured a fire outside the Fairmont hotel on the exclusive man-made Palm Jumeirah island, flames licking the exterior of the renowned Burj Al Arab hotel, and smoke billowing near the Burj Khalifa—an 830-meter (2,723-foot) skyscraper.

Additionally, a fire broke out at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port—its primary sea terminal and a key global shipping hub—while Dubai International Airport sustained damage and four staff members were injured, per the Dubai Media Office.

Kristy Ellmer, a New Hampshire resident on a business trip, stated she was staying away from her hotel windows but felt relatively secure despite the multiple explosions.

“You hear a lot of explosions at times—hundreds of them,” she noted. “It’s disconcerting. We aren’t used to hearing bombs or missiles, after all.”

Louise Herrle, an American tourist whose flight home to the U.S. with her husband was canceled in Dubai, said this was her third attempt to visit the region. Previous trips were called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Now that their Abu Dhabi and Dubai tour has ended, she is unlikely to return to the UAE or the broader region.

“I’d probably steer clear of this part of the world when tensions rise—it escalates so rapidly,” Herrle commented.

“Maybe the universe was trying to send us a message,” she added.