Tensions continue to rise regionally as the US-Israel-Iran war continues. Within the UAE, the Ministry of Defence has noted that since the start of Iran’s aggression, the Emirates Air Defence has detected 186 ballistic missiles, out of which 172 were intercepted. Whereas 812 Iranian drones were detected, 755 drones were intercepted, and 57 fell within the country’s territory. 8 cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed. However, this caused some collateral damage, resulting in 3 casualties of Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities. They have continued to affirm that their defence is on high alert, taking all necessary measures to ensure security and stability within the country, prioritising the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.
Initially, guidelines from UAE officials urged the public to stay indoors and away from windows and glass objects for safety. However, with recent developments, most public spaces are operating as normal. Last evening, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed were seen at Dubai Mall, walking through the mall and dining casually among the public, a visible signal of calm and continuity.
Restaurants, gyms, pilates studios, public transit, and malls, including Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Palm Jumeirah Mall, Times Square Centre and more are fully operational and open. These malls will be operational at standard mall timings. However, individual brand stores in these malls might either be closed or working with a limited staff.
Curated spaces such as Bluewaters Island and Expo City Dubai are also open and operational. Al Quoz community, Alserkal Avenue is also open to the public; however, most galleries and studios are closed until March 4.
When it comes to flights, the UAE has allowed limited operations to resume, with repatriation flights beginning on March 2. According to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, approximately 17,980 passengers have been transported, and 80 flights are further scheduled.
While it will still take time for commercial flights to return to normal, public life in Dubai is slowly returning. We expect this to continue as the UAE actively lobbies for de-escalation on a broader scale alongside Qatar.
