A Brit living in Dubai has revealed that he heard a missile behind his home but says he would ‘take drone strikes over rain any day’.
Zach Cairns, 32, moved to the city six years ago.
He said London rent prices, the sad weather and lack of opportunity were the main three things that pushed him to leave the UK.
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Since his move, he’s found a “sense of purpose” but missile strikes over the weekend have left him feeling quite uneasy – especially as one went off behind his house.
Despite the city being on red alert, Zach would take it over moving back to Britain any day.
“I’d take drone strokes over 200 days of rain,” the owner of Cairns & Co opticians, from Portadown, told Need To Know.
“I heard some bangs and later in the day, we saw some interceptor missiles behind our home.
“I was concerned and a bit uneasy; but not in fear.”
Zach, who says 80% of his patients are either British or Irish, comments that the general atmosphere felt is that it’s “business as usual”.
He said: “All my patients are turning up.
“Yesterday, we even went for a Sunday roast.
“The Government here is good at keeping people up to date with messages and on social media.
“They take the safety of residents and tourists very seriously.
“I don’t see any reason to panic particularly.”
Zach does say, however, that a lot of food and other products are imported in.
He said: “If this sustains, that would affect us.
“But I’m not worried right now.
“I think we just need to see what the next few weeks hold.”
Another Brit has a different attitude.
Poppy Owen, 34, went into “panic mode” as her home shook from nearby explosions.
She said: “When I drove home, I saw [the missile] in the sky behind my house in the desert.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“I just ran into the house to make sure my family were OK.
“I went into total shock, fear and filled with anxiety as to what was going to happen next.”
Poppy, at around midnight, got an emergency alert from the Government.
It read: “Due to the current situation, a potential missile threats, Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions.”
The freelance creative marketing director, from Bangor, said: “It’s quietened down today, but there were loud noises at around three in the morning.
“Most people are getting on with their day while still being fearful of the unknown.
“We’re still hearing missiles.
“We don’t know how long this is going to go on for.
“The children are off school today and for another couple of days.
“We’re just staying indoors and not travelling anywhere.”
Poppy moved to the city from the UK with her husband, Benjamin, 38, and their two kids, Effie Beau, five and Indie Summer, three, after becoming the “worst version of herself”.
She attributes weight gain, being unhappy and wanting to stay indoors due to the cold weather as her three reasons.
And in spite of the current situation, she says it’s made her love Dubai “even more”.
She added: “I trust that we are super safe.
“Even if the UK offered us a plane to go back, I’d stay here.
“I feel safer and if anything, it’s made me love it even more because of how they look after their tourists and residents.
“[My biggest fear] are my children.
“They think it’s fireworks; but they know what to do now as we have told them if a firework goes off and it shakes the house to run to the bathroom.
“It’s heavy, but we’re in the safest hands.”
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