I-moved-to-Dubai-for-a-job-2-years-ago.jpeg

I moved to Dubai for a job 2 years ago. It’s still where I see my future.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nizar Mezher, 32, an architect and interior designer based in Dubai. His words have been edited for length and clarity.

I was born and grew up in a small village in the mountains of Lebanon. There’s a certain intensity to life there; culturally, it’s rich, but also unpredictable at times. You learn resilience without being taught it directly, and you develop a strong sense of adaptability to any kind of situation.

Looking back, those qualities have influenced not only who I am and my character, but also how I approach design and decision-making.

I completed my bachelor’s degree at the Lebanese American University in Beirut and moved to Italy, initially to pursue my master’s degree in interior design at Nuova Accademia di Belle Arte in Milan.

The experience became a defining chapter in my life. Italy gave me a strong foundation — not only academically, but also professionally.

The future in Lebanon was always unpredictable

I wanted to have a plan B in the back of my mind. Plan B became plan A, and I think it really shaped my entire career and life direction. Going to Italy to study was one of the best choices I’ve ever made. But after about 8 years, I felt I’d absorbed everything I could from that environment.

It prepared me for the next step. Moving to the UAE two years ago was a no-brainer — it’s one of the places where I knew I’d have a lot of opportunity to grow and achieve.

My time in Italy showed me what excellence looks like, but also made me aware that I wanted to operate at a different scale and pace.

My first impressions of Dubai

What struck me immediately after arriving in Dubai was the nation’s vision.

There is a collective belief in progress, in pushing boundaries, and in constantly improving. It also gave me the impression of a place where ideas are not only welcomed but given the structure and support to become a reality.

I’ve found that if you are committed and consistent, Dubai responds. Its diversity creates a stimulating professional environment. The challenge is the pace. Expectations are high, and things move quickly — that’s also part of its appeal.

When I arrived in Dubai, I expected growth in my life and career, but I didn’t anticipate the speed and scale of it. The level of responsibility I was given, the size of the teams I managed, and the complexity of the projects all exceeded my expectations. What surprised me most was how merit-driven the environment is. When you deliver, you are trusted.

Branching out on my own

Until two months ago, I worked as a studio manager for a boutique architecture and interior design studio. Professionally, it marked a shift into leadership — moving beyond design into managing teams, overseeing projects, and contributing to a broader vision.

Personally, it was a form of validation. It confirmed that the foundation I built over the years could translate and grow into a much larger and more dynamic context.

I’m now starting my own construction business. It marked a shift into my lifelong dream. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and move beyond the realm of design.

The right place to build my future

Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a quieter side of Dubai. There are fewer cars on the road, and more people are working from home, but overall, business is going on as usual.

Even with these small changes, the city’s spirit feels strong and resilient.

I still believe Dubai is where I will find opportunity. It’s not something I had to overanalyze. I trust the leadership.

No matter what, the UAE is still the safest bet for me. I don’t see Dubai as a temporary stop — it’s a long-term base. I see my future here.

There may be moments of slowdown, but I see them for what they are: temporary phases, not defining conditions. Every market has them.




Source link

A-British-citizen-in-Dubai-says-he-still-feels-safe.jpeg

A British citizen in Dubai says he still feels safe despite the Iran strikes

by with No Comment Xpandfy

This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Charlie Lovett, a British citizen in Dubai who runs a used-car marketplace. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes at sites in the United Arab Emirates after being attacked by the US and Israel. This story has been edited for length and clarity.

I have British parents and am a British citizen, but a large chunk of my life has been spent here in Dubai.

My dad’s job brought us here, so I did all my schooling here from age 3 to 18. I moved back to London for university and worked there for a few years. In the last couple years, I set up a business in the UAE, so I am back here quite a lot.

It was very surreal when everything started on Saturday.

I had some friends around, and we knew what was happening in Iran, but I didn’t think much about canceling or changing plans, which is a testament to how safe I felt here. I live in a high-rise on the Palm Jumeirah and was sitting on my balcony when I could hear a few bangs in the area.

Initially, it was quite scary and very unsettling, but very quickly, I turned to government sources about what was going on. If you live here or have lived here for a long time, you understand that it is a safe place to live and that measures are in place to protect you. There’s been a big difference in reactions between people who live here and people who are visiting.

Growing up in Dubai instilled a strong sense of safety

Before the other day, I had never heard a missile here.

Still, having grown up here, I have a deep-rooted, subconscious sense of safety that has built over time.

There is a lot of trust here within the community and in the government. Half the time, we don’t even lock our doors. The other day, I went for a run and didn’t want to carry my car keys, so I just left them in the car. You don’t have to worry about these things here. It’s the small things you notice growing up here, as a kid, being able to play outside for hours without a parent.

You also get an understanding of how the government operates. It’s very structured and organized. You feel like you’re in safe hands. For instance, during COVID, everything was handled very well.

There are protocols in place, and people here are really good at following them. If you’re told not to go into the office, for example, people don’t really kick up a fuss about that. They just crack on.

On all the official government channels, you can see almost a live breakdown of everything that’s happening and an explanation as to what’s going on — like that the sounds aren’t necessarily missiles landing, they’re just being intercepted. The government also sent out iPhone notifications, all translated into both English and Arabic.

Right now, for people who live here, I think the consensus is it’s just business as usual. Everyone’s quite calm.

It already feels normal again. There’s the occasional loud sound, but that’s mostly subsided in the last few days. There’s a mall right next to me where I work and shop, and it’s been packed. There are people out and doing things and just going about their day. I was just out for dinner with my dad.

There’s a lot of conflicting information going around

If you’re not from here or if you’re here on holiday, I get that it would be very different. You’re in an unfamiliar environment, you don’t know how things work, and you don’t necessarily have family or friends around.

I also think some people may be scrolling online or seeing rumors, rather than following the official channels. I think there’s been a lot of mixed reporting, which can also confuse things.

I’ve got family and friends in the UK, and my girlfriend’s there at the moment, so they’re seeing what’s being reported in British media and what’s surfacing online. So there’s this huge discrepancy in what’s actually happening and what’s being shared in certain places.

I got here just over two weeks ago. I’m trying to leave, not because I’m evacuating, but because I’m trying to make it to the Barcelona marathon. It’s just a matter of finding a flight that’ll get me there in time. Afterward, I’ll return here when I can.

For people who live here — about 90% of whom are expats — the thought of this happening wasn’t even in our minds until last week. But even then, it has not shifted our perspective. A lot of people feel more comfortable staying here than they would going back to their home countries.




Source link

I-flew-to-Dubai-for-my-30th-birthday-Now-Im.jpeg

I flew to Dubai for my 30th birthday. Now I’m stranded 8,000 miles from home and terrified after the US strikes on Iran.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shanice Day, a 30-year-old stylist based in Houston, who is stuck in Dubai after traveling there to celebrate her birthday with a friend. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I came to Dubai with one of my best friends. We left Texas on February 23 and arrived in Dubai early on the 24th, the day of my 30th birthday.

The hotel staff gave me a cake, roses, and drinks. They even sang “Happy Birthday.” It was wonderful. Every time I told someone it was my birthday, they made me feel special.

February 28 was meant to be the last full day of my birthday trip to Dubai. That was when the Iranian strikes started. Since then, we’ve been trying to get back to the US, but we’ve hit so many roadblocks.

I planned my birthday trip to Dubai about 5 months ago

I had planned this trip for my best friend and me about five months ago. We usually travel everywhere together. We decided that this time, Dubai would be a good place to go for such a big birthday. I’d always wanted to visit the Middle East.

At the start of our trip, we did a lot of cultural things. We visited a mosque, the Miracle Garden, and the beaches. We really indulged ourselves and tried so many different kinds of food.

Dubai is a beautiful city. Everyone here is very kind, and in my first few days, I felt the safest I’d ever felt. I never expected anything like this would happen here.

The final day of my trip

On Saturday, the 28th, I was shopping at the Dubai Mall. My best friend stayed behind to go to the beach at our resort.

When I went into a store, I asked the clerk if I could come back before my flight. He told me I might not be able to, and I didn’t understand why. I checked my phone and immediately saw that the US and Israel had struck Iran. My best friend called me and told me that I needed to get back to the resort.

I was shaken up by the strike in Dubai

We’re staying at a five-star hotel in the Jumeirah Beach Residence area. It’s not too far from the Fairmont The Palm, which caught on fire during an Iranian air attack on Saturday night. I didn’t see the smoke, but I heard the sounds from the air-defense systems.

In the US, we don’t hear things like that. It really shook me up. A lot. It felt like an out-of-body experience.

Sunday in Dubai felt very eerie. On Monday, we went out just to get a bite to eat, but the energy still felt off. I think people are trying to make the best of the situation, but the mood has shifted.

We broke down in tears when our flights from Dubai were canceled

Our flight was meant to depart on March 1 at 5.30. The night before, we were notified that it had been canceled. We broke down in tears. We’re 8,000 miles away from our family and friends. We don’t know when this will be over. We didn’t know how we were going to get out.

We immediately started looking for any way out. When we realized we couldn’t find one, our hearts broke. We were devastated and scared. I’m very spiritual, so we both started to pray.

My friends and family back in Texas are concerned about us. I had to tell my immediate family that I don’t know when we’ll make it home.

I feel traumatized and am hesitant to travel overseas right now

I’m trying to see the positive now: We’re still in Dubai, and we’re still safe. Our hotel has taken precautions to make us feel at home, but it’s still very traumatic.

I’ve been traveling since I was 14. I love experiencing different cultures, but this has been overwhelming. I’d say that traveling overseas will not be at the top of my priority list after this.

I’ll probably get therapy after this experience. I know it’s going to take me a while to build up the courage to travel again.

All I want is to get home to my dog, my cat, my mom, and my friends, and honestly, I even miss my job as a personal stylist.

I love Dubai, but I want to be home and at ease

My friend, who is watching my cat and dog while we’re away, FaceTimed me with my pets. I got to see my babies. I just want to see them again. I just want to feel normal again.

I’m not at ease, and I don’t think I will be until I cuddle up with my animals again.

But despite all this, I still love Dubai.

Do you have a story to share about leaving or trying to leave the United Arab Emirates? Contact this reporter at jzitser@businessinsider.com.




Source link

Im-stuck-in-Dubai-after-our-flight-was-canceled-Im.jpeg

I’m stuck in Dubai after our flight was canceled. I’m paying more than $650 a night for a hotel.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kunal Trehan, a luxury interior designer. It has been edited for length and clarity.

We arrived in Dubai on February 20th to expand our business into the UAE, fully expecting to fly home to the UK on February 28th at 10:20 p.m. local time.

On Saturday, the day we intended to leave, we decided to chill by the beach connected to our hotel. Around midday, we heard what sounded like an explosion — a very faint but deep sound. My partner and I assumed it was demolition until an hour later, when people started messaging me on WhatsApp asking if I was OK. I couldn’t understand what they were worried about.


Two men posing for photo inside a car

Kunal Trehan and his partner are stuck in Dubai after the airport closed.

Courtesy of Kunal Trehan



I quickly opened the Qatar Airways app and saw that our flight had been canceled. I started to freak out a bit, wondering if something was going on and how we would escape.

We heard more explosions

As we sat on the beach, still trying to figure out what was happening and what to do next, we could hear more explosions and see accompanying clouds of smoke in the distance. We rushed inside, with me telling my pragmatic self to stay calm and not to panic.

In the evening, more explosions could be heard. We could see the orange light of missiles racing across the sky. We didn’t know where they were being launched from or who was launching them.

I was getting increasingly nervous after looking at the news and social media online. Hotel staff told guests to come inside from their balconies and close their room curtains. Everyone obeyed.

By this point, the sky had become a large plume of smoke over the Fairmont hotel. In the lobby, people were notably panicked. It felt quite claustrophobic, unsettling.

We got emergency alerts on our phones

At midnight, my partner and I got ready to head to sleep when we heard yet another explosion. We opened our curtains, and it looked as if a missile was headed right towards us. Our phones started alarming with the emergency government message to take shelter. “What the hell do we do?” I asked my partner.


Emergency alert

Kunal Trehan received emergency alerts on his phone.

Courtesy of Kunal Trehan



Hotel staff knocked, told us to gather our passports and valuables, and to make our way to the basement. The basement was a concrete-floored area. People were perched on the ground, the elderly in chairs. The staff was doing what they could to calm people and make them as comfortable as possible, providing pillows and blankets.

Even the staff, many of whom are locals, were alarmed. They’ve told us that they haven’t experienced this before. We’ve tried to calm others, to make sure they’re OK.

For three hours, we stayed in the basement, but eventually made our way back to the room as my sciatica was flaring up. We had two hours of sleep in our room before we were woken by another explosion around 9 a.m. on Sunday.

We are advised to stay inside the hotel

The hotel has continued to advise people to stay inside — although we know we aren’t directly being attacked, we are caught in the crossfire of a war, and who knows what could fall from the sky. We’ve followed the advice given to us and done what we can to stay safe.


People sheltering in hotel

Kunal Trehan had to take shelter in the hotel’s basement.

Courtesy of Kunal Trehan



We’ve asked to move hotel rooms to a first-floor room. If our hotel gets hit, we’d rather be able to get outside quickly. My partner and I keep reminding each other that, for right now, we are relatively safe.

But whereas yesterday, I felt a sense of purpose in helping others, today, I’m feeling very flat. We are incredibly fortunate, yet completely out of control, and have no idea when we will be able to get home.

We are paying $670 a night at the hotel

Fortunately, we have the funds to continue paying for our hotel room, which is about $670 a night, and to eat and buy necessities. Our meal tonight — just mains and water — came to about $120. We haven’t been told that any of this will be reimbursed by our travel insurance company.


Man taking selfie at Dubai hotel

Kunal Trehan and his partner moved to a first-floor room in case they need to evacuate.

Courtesy of Kunal Trehan



Over and over, my partner and I speak of how lucky we are. Lucky that we are safe. Lucky that we have money to stay here. Lucky that we didn’t attempt to go to the airport. And yet, we are still so worried. So many emotions — from fear to gratitude.

Our friends and family are so worried for us — we have had hundreds of messages asking how we are. No matter how much we tell them we are safe, their worry continues, and we can hear it in their message and voice notes.

We are hoping to fly out on Thursday, but nothing is set in stone. Just another thing out of our control for now.




Source link

Photos-show-damage-to-Dubai-luxury-tourist-hotspot-after-Iranian.jpeg

Photos show damage to Dubai luxury tourist hotspot after Iranian strike

by with No Comment Xpandfy

  • The US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Saturday.
  • Iran’s retaliation involved strikes across six Gulf nations.
  • Photos taken during and after the strikes showed damage to a luxury hotel in Dubai and other spots.

The attacks launched by the US and Israel on Iran escalated on Saturday, with retaliatory strikes hitting nations across the Gulf.

Hours into what the Trump administration is calling Operation Epic Fury, Iran responded with attacks on more than six countries, from Dubai to Bahrain. Iran said it targeted bases that host US forces in the Middle East.

Satellite pictures also show extensive damage to Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei’s residence. Khamenei was killed on Saturday, though it is still unclear if he was at the Tehran compound when it was struck.

Intercepted missiles were seen streaking across the sky in Dubai, a tourist hotspot, and their debris appeared to spark fires and other issues. Fairmont’s famous luxury property on the Palm was hit.

Chaos was also abound at airports, amid mass flight cancellations as planes scrambled to clear the airspace over Iran.




Source link

Passengers-evacuated-Dubai-airport-after-it-was-hit-with-a.jpeg

Passengers evacuated Dubai airport after it was hit with a missile

by with No Comment Xpandfy

  • Dubai International Airport was damaged in an attack on Saturday.
  • The airport said four staff members sustained injuries.
  • A passenger told Business Insider they’d received a missile warning before the incident.

One of the world’s busiest airports was just evacuated after a suspected air strike.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) said that the airport had “sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained.”

Videos online show debris on the ground and smoke filling the terminal as travelers rush to the exits. Others show emergency vehicles on site.

“Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention,” the airport said. “Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers.”

The airport said more updates will be provided “as they become available.” It’s unclear if there were other injuries.

The attack came as Iran continues to send missiles across the Middle East in response to joint US-Israel strikes on Saturday, which Trump said had killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Dubai’s other airport, Dubai World Center — Al Maktoum International (DWC), said its operations were suspended until further notice and told passengers not to go to the airport.

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation said a drone hit Kuwait International Airport earlier Saturday, causing injuries and damage. It added that the site was secure as the airport assessed the damage and needed repairs. It’s unclear if it was an Iranian drone.


Screenshot of alert.

A screenshot of Jaiveer Cheema’s phone showing the alert.

Courtesy of Jaiveer Cheema



Emirates passenger Jaiveer Cheema, who has been stuck in Dubai for hours after his flight was canceled amid the air strikes, told Business Insider that he got an alert on his phone around 12:30 a.m. local time that there was a potential missile threat.

The attack on DXB happened soon after. Cheema was at a hotel by then, but said “everyone is taking shelter in the bottom floor of the hotel.”

This is a developing story…




Source link