Two Questions on Dubai

[Peanutbutteryday]

Sorry if this has been done to death I’ve had a busy day and not been on mumsnet. Also sorry for just focusing on Dubai in my post. It goes without saying that I feel for everyone involved in all countries including Iran

1. I feel like the UK media is light on Dubai coverage given the number of British nationals there. Why? Is the Dubai media not releasing info? or am I just missing seeing coverage

2. I know we don’t have a crystal ball but do we think there could be a mass exodus of Brit’s living there? Or a huge change in the number of people wanting to move there?

2-Without doubt. The grass is greener on the other side advertisment with every aspect of life being an improvement over the UK will be hard to sale now.

1 - I imagine Dubai makes an effort to encourage favourable media coverage (holidays! shopping!) and discourage unfavourable stories. A journalist who wrote an unfavourable story wouldn't get a visa next time. And the politics/leadership is so wrapped up and closed that not many stories get out.

I’ve seen quite a bit, recently read this. It looks like a huge operation

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/01/foreign-office-starts-planning-evacution-of-thousands-of-britons-in-middle-east

I would never go there even as a married woman. It’s never been on my list.

I do wonder if there is a sudden exodus, where the UK will put them all? something like 1/4 million people have UK passports.

That’s a big influx!

I heard, but don't know how true it is, that you are not allowed to post on social media about the situation, pics of the disruption etc and, if caught doing so, will face a fine of up to £40k.

Regarding point number 2 I’m sure a few will rethink but not the majority.

The suggestion is that a lot wont want to come back as they are wanted by The Police

1. there is a law in Dubai effectively banning sharing photos and videos which aren't good for their PR. Something like law against rumours. Huge fines and or prison sentence are at play.

2. not really. People who were happy to go live in Dubai will be very willing to believe that all is good now. A few people will hesitate for a moment, but the lure of the "lifestyle" will win.

Though it's undoubtedly very scary there haven't been mass casualties (people.have died and it's still awful) and I think most of the missiles/drones are being shot down. It's the debris from this which is causing the issues I think. The first person stories coming from British people out there are "my flight was delayed and now I'm trapped", "we had to shelter in an underground carpark overnight", "I can see the missiles being shot down from my house". That's really scary and awful. I don't want to downplay it. But it's less interesting from the tabloids POV than British people fleeing armed militants or being in a hurricane. So it's news but not front page

For the future I suspect some people might leave but either it will die down or people get used to it as background risk. The same way that people in America are used to school shootings though it puts me of living there. I imagine the UAE is concerned about Dubai losing its status as a glam destination though. A big part of their diversification strategy was property and wealthy expats.

Well... It's good some of us stayed behind to pay taxes isn't it or they'd be in trouble. (Of course not everyone over there is a self styled tax refugee and the UK fov should help her citizens). I can have a personal grump at the Tices if this world though.

The type of Brit who moves there or holidays there is generally spectacularly under-informed about current affairs and geopolitical conflicts, so you never know. Ignorance may save the Dubai tourist industry at least.

Thanks everyone interesting comments. Wonder what will happen to all the long hauls using Dubai as a connection- although I guess most routes wil have no choice but to continue

Agreed.

Well put. The three people I know who have gone there are certainly like that.

I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re stupid and uninformed but they are ostriches, bury head in the sand sort and have moved to Dubai for tax reasons plus heat.

I’m in Abu Dhabi so just down the road. I’m on holiday and of course unable to get back yet

there are no fines for posting online. There is nobody placing any restrictions on media usage . People aren’t ’fleeing For their lives’

it has been a bit stressful and worrying but it isn’t chaos . People who landed here on stop overs have been allocated hotels - we have a fair few here and a lot are without their luggage unfortunately

also we have been sent a document from the Abu Dhabi government - you show it to your hotel reception and they bill the government here for your extended stay - full board. I was convinced it was a scam but no - so we were quite impressed with that. We of course have our own insurance but it was helpful

I think that the repatriation should take place at speed, and the UK police should be waiting at all airports to arrest as soon as the passports of any criminals are scanned on arrival.

Anyone who has spent a large chunk of time out there not paying UK tax needs to pay for all NHS treatment now too.

Stop screaming about desperate people in small boats; this one will be far more profitable. Seizing the assets of Dubai expat criminals would be lucrative.

I suppose it depends who you know; it’s not all criminals and influencers. I know lawyers at big firms and finance professionals who’ve been out there for years. I know many people including doctors and other professionals who have holidayed there either en route to other places or as an easy sunny place to go with a family. I know people with family links in the Middle East or Asia for whom it’s a convenient base for work or vacation. Few are ill-informed, they just make a different judgment. You can find fault with the history and politics almost anywhere, depending on your perspective.

Thanks for the update and interesting to know. That’s the sort of thing I’d like to read about in the media but it doesn’t really feature

hope you’re managing to relax.

And to add I don't think it's all criminals and influencers - that's daft; however it will be an interesting exercise and a great opportunity to catch the percentage of undesirables as they filter back through.
The majority just need to be brought home safely and quickly. I think the quickly part is unlikely.

Agree there are a pot of people who will either stop due to a lay over or decide it’s a straight forward holiday destination for winter sun for example.

I don’t think a lot of destinations have any other options for a lay over other than the Middle East if you don’t want to fly direct so will be interesting to see any short or long term impact on this. So many people pass through uae each day

But surely Sting won’t be too harsh?!

Agree. I keep seeing 240,000 thrown around but I think that’s British reidents . The number must be higher if you included British people on holiday or stuck due to connecting flight.

agree that it may be a long exercise.

I suppose this is a reason to take my work laptop on holidays just in case 🤷🏽‍♀️ I never do though haha

I’m in Dubai. It’s been worrying of course but unless things get significantly worse, I have no plans to leave and return to the UK to be honest.