An Irish businessman has referred to the “sheer terror” of the direct drone strike against a luxury hotel in Dubai that took place when an Iranian retaliatory attack disrupted Dubai's reputation as a global refuge. The witness, who was staying in a five-star resort at the Palm Jumeirah, said a “nerve-wracking” incident had seen hundreds of tourists fleeing into underground bunkers for their lives.
"We Thought It Was Fireworks"
The businessman, who was in Dubai for a series of trade meetings, was lounging near the waterfront on Saturday evening when the first sounds of explosions echoed over the Gulf. “At the beginning, there was a succession of pops. And in Dubai, you just assume that’s another fireworks display,” he said to reporters. “Then the sky shimmered with interceptor missiles, and a giant orange fireball burst out of the center of the Palm. That’s when the screams started.”
The strike, which authorities later said was a Shahed-style suicide drone, struck the Fairmont The Palm hotel. Video footage confirmed by international news stations showed dense black smoke billowing from the luxury establishment, with flames burning through the facade.
A Scramble for Safety
Once the drone struck, the “carefully maintained normality” of the glittery metropolis disappeared like smoke. "It was nerve-wracking. The hotel staff were amazing, but you saw their fear in their eyes. We were thrust into the underground car parks and basement ballrooms,” the businessman said. “Some people were crying, some were frantically calling home, some were panic-stricken. My phone vibrated with emergency alerts telling us to keep away from windows."
The latest strike came as part of a massive onslaught, when the UAE Ministry of Defence said it had detected at least 500 drones and 160 ballistic missiles launched from Iran. Although most were intercepted by the UAE’s complex air defenses, several “leaked” through and wreaked havoc on the Burj Al Arab, Jebel Ali Port, and a concourse at Dubai International Airport.
The "Gilded Cage"
For many Irish expatriates and visitors, worry now revolves around survival rather than luxury. With the airspace in the UAE closed down and private jet prices skyrocketing above €85,000 for a flight to Istanbul, many still feel trapped. “Dubai has always been kind of perceived as the safest city on the planet," the businessman went on, “You don’t even look over your shoulder here. But seeing a drone hit a hotel where families are vacationing… it all changes. Now it almost feels as if we’re in a gilded cage.”
Assisted Departures
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has sent in a Consular Crisis team as part of an escalating crisis. Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said charter flights would be set up to rescue vulnerable Irish citizens – including those non-residents who were caught in the crossfire. “The first thing I need to do right now is to get back to Dublin,” he said. “The glitz doesn’t make a difference if you are in a basement wondering if the next ‘bang’ is the one that blows the roof down.”
