Everyday life in Dubai after the attacks. “Now I notice two types of people.”
Tehzeeb has lived in Dubai for 19 years. She says the Iranian attacks on the city initially terrified her because it reminded her of her escape from Kuwait in the 1990s. The city’s residents are now “scared and vigilant” but hopeful that the situation will return to normal soon.
Marzena Tarkowska, “Wprost”: On Saturday, the US and Israel attacked Iran, which responded with attacks on several Persian Gulf countries. When did you find out about the shelling of Dubai?
Tehzeeb Huda: We were supposed to go out with our friends for a hen party. One of them wrote on a WhatsApp group: “My husband is in the army, he has good intelligence, so we should stay at home.” We thought he was exaggerating. Suddenly, within an hour, we heard the sounds of blows coming from all directions.
Now people are scared and vigilant, but full of hope that everything will return to normal. Most of the noise we heard was from an air defense system intercepting missiles, so that’s good news.
On Monday, the Prime Minister and the President of the UAE visited the famous Dubai Mall. We read this as a signal: “don’t worry”! It’s amazing. This also made us feel safe.
What has changed for residents after the weekend?
We mostly work remotely and schools operate online. Initially, people panicked and stocked up – even I bought a lot of water. But the supplies are good and everything is in the stores. I have a friend who works in a bank. When another one started to panic: “We have to withdraw the money,” she calmed us down. Banking apps simply ran slower. I know people withdraw some money just in case.
On Monday we heard two really loud noises and the building started shaking. We were sent information to stay away from windows etc. First we heard two noises, then another noise. Only my daughter made me realize that the last one was something different: “Mom, it’s a call to prayer.” I am a child of the Gulf War – my family and I had to leave Kuwait in 1990. I think that’s why I panicked more than most people in the beginning.
Due to the attacks, did you make an initial escape plan in case the situation in the United Arab Emirates worsens?
People shared information about places open to residents where they could find shelter. If the situation worsens, the first country for expats like me will be our own country. In my case it is New Zealand. It’s far and expensive there, and I’m a single mother with a dog. One of my first thoughts was that the formalities related to the transport of animals take about three months. It’s a bit disturbing, but I hope it doesn’t come to that.
In Muslim countries, it’s Ramadan and people go out in the evening for iftar (the first meal after sunset). Have you noticed anything has changed?
Restaurants are open again. People are slowly leaving their homes. Some of my friends say, “let’s go to iftar,” but others say, “no, I prefer to stay at home.”
So there are two groups of people. Some say: let’s go, because whatever will be, will be. The others initially hid in basements when they first heard the sounds of explosions.
Another interesting thing about Dubai is that we rely heavily on delivery services, such as ordering groceries online. These suppliers are the real heroes of the last few days.
Did your friends think they would have to run away?
No, on the contrary. It’s the other way around. My friend’s parents from India came to visit her and now they can’t leave. They were planning to leave on Sunday, but she said she preferred to wait at least a week and let them return when it was safe (flight operations from the UAE have resumed on a limited basis – ed.).
You mentioned the Gulf War and escaping from Kuwait. Do you sometimes miss this country?
No, probably not. I left Kuwait when I was maybe 11 or 12 years old. My family is from India and my dad was a petroleum engineer and we moved to Kuwait because of his job when I was little. The Gulf War was one of the reasons we emigrated to New Zealand. It changed the course of our lives quite significantly. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates are two wealthy Gulf countries, but the United Arab Emirates relies more on tourism and real estate.
Why did you swap New Zealand for Dubai?
I was young and moved there because of marriage, now I live here happily after divorce. I’m glad I stayed because the career opportunities in my industry are really good. I work as a Global Marketing Leader for a large lighting manufacturer, and I also create online content on my Instagram profile. Dubai is a great melting pot of cultures. 98 percent of residents are not even UAE nationals. I’m proud that my daughter goes to school here because she has a broader view of the world than if she grew up in New Zealand.
I know people who don’t live in Dubai say it has no soul, that it looks man-made. But if you live here like I do, you know it has soul. For me, it’s in its people and how they built the country from a desert to the tallest building in the world.
