They Moved to Dubai in Pursuit of the Expat Dream. They're Not Giving It up so Easily.

Dubai's reputation as an expat safe haven has been tested by recent regional escalation after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran's subsequent retaliation, which Business Insider reports have led to strikes across six Gulf nations and damage to Dubai infrastructure, including parts of Dubai International Airport, the Jebel Ali port and at least two luxury hotels. The UAE has advised private-sector workers to work remotely and shifted schools and universities to remote learning; trading on the UAE stock market was suspended Monday and Tuesday and was slated to reopen on Wednesday.

"Dubai is the most fulfilled and happy I have been in my adult life," said Kiran Ali, a Washington, DC import who works in enterprise sales at a data streaming company and moved to Dubai in March 2024. "I have an incredible career, a purpose in community organizing, and great work life balance." Ali told Business Insider she would only leave if the city became dangerous for her two young children.

Context and reactions on the ground

Reactions among the expatriate community in the UAE are mixed. Some long-term residents and recent arrivals say they plan to stay. Stephanie Baker, a UK property investment specialist who moved to Dubai a year ago, described a professional ecosystem that quickly amplified opportunity and said the way authorities have communicated during the recent incidents left people feeling "very, very safe." "When I've asked people if they'd want to leave, nobody does," she told Business Insider.

Jimmy Sexton, an American who relocated from Las Vegas in 2015 and is founder of Esquire Group, which advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the UAE, said he has not heard clients planning to leave. "The UAE Government, in my view, has always handled crises very well," Sexton said, while adding the caveat that "you never know how this situation evolves."

Still, advisors and service firms report caution among some segments. Angelo Robles, a global family offices strategist working with families in Dubai, said many are "a little bit shook" and unclear about Dubai's long-term appeal. Indus Chaffeur, a luxury chauffeur service, reported an uptick in "last-minute and urgent enquiries" for cross-border transfers as wealthier travelers seek to reunite with families abroad; operations coordinator Mike D'Souza said "demand appears precaution-driven rather than panic-driven."

• US officials urged Americans in Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE, to depart immediately.
• Multiple regional airspaces and airports remain closed or operating at minimal capacity, including Dubai International Airport.
• The UAE recommended private-sector remote work until Tuesday; schools and universities moved to remote learning until Wednesday.
• Trading on the UAE stock market was suspended Monday and Tuesday with reopening planned for Wednesday.

Outlook

Wealth advisers and expats say it is too early to predict long-term impacts. Philippe Amarante, managing partner at Henley & Partners, reported calmness and compliance among his clients and partners: "I have not come across anything other than just calmness and compliance in following government directives." Yet questions remain about whether the idea of the UAE as an "absolute safe haven" will persist. Bo Jablonski, who lives in Abu Dhabi, said the quality of life and opportunities for her children outweigh immediate fears: "The quality of life here is far higher than what we left behind. Our children have a great life here, our job prospects are better."