After Iran, a scene of missiles at Doha, Qatar, Iran has started an operation to target an American base in Qatar on 23 June 2025.
Stringer | Anadolu | Getty images
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – an increase in regional war, or a group of choreograph theaters?
Millions of people in the Middle East were asked to give shelter on Monday night as the airspace was closed on them and Iran fired a barrage of missiles on the Al-Yud Air Base in Qatar, the largest and most firm military base in the region. Video of interceptors who illuminated the night sky over Doha went viral on social media, while flight tracking platforms showed passenger jets on their way to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The Iranian strike, described by US President Donald Trump later as “weak” and the White House says it was telegraph before doing the number of casualties, in response to unprecedented US attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities last week., Which was done with The largest non-atomic bomb on earth.
Trump declared a ceasefire and called for peace. It remains to be seen whether both Israel and Iran will accept and paste a ceasefire, and still have more questions: what happened to Iran’s rich uranium supply? How much damage was done in all attacks? Does it end here? Will Iran’s government survive? Will the airspace open again and the flights will resume all over the region?
People around the area expressed their feelings, fear and hopes in a conversation with CNBC. Many of those individuals chose to do so on the situation of not printing the name, due to the sensitive nature of their comments, and from the state or from their employers.
‘Just looked like a big show’
“In my opinion, there was a winner in this war – and it was the United States. Because it also showed that without the United States, it could not win – or even the end war. To be destroyed in a case of nights.” – H., Director of Oil and Gas Business in Tehran, Iran
“I am so ‘Ehh’ about this. It looked like just a big show. I think everyone was waiting for how Iran would respond. It is probably the best case to calm things. I hope that now Gaza is focused on Gaza. Many people are still being killed everyday.” – Palestinian entrepreneur Said Illayan living in Dubai
“People are laughing in a very limited scope of Iran’s operation against Al-UDed. Yet Tehran managed to give a powerful geopolitical message to the Gulf states: Instead of having a well of security, he can host American forces on his soil-and in fact-will invite the destructive attacks.” -Mo, Egyptians living in Cairo
“We are completely fed up. We are angry, disappointed, depressed, and are afraid. We feel helpless and we feel unjust. We are tired of being attacked and unstable by the US and Israel, ‘we are under the guise of freeing the turni’. – Karim, Egyptian entrepreneurs live in Dubai
“I am not honestly upset about Iran. He did it in Palestine in Israel in the last 70 years. – A., Iraqi expat living in Dubai
Emergency activists investigate a building damage from an Iranian missile strike in Borsheba, Southern Israel on 24 June 2025.
John Vessels | AFP | Getty images
“Like all other small interactions between Iran and Israel, it has been very rare, very rarely, and they were originally just a small clash and then called it one day. I knew that it was not going to be anything separate. And the real teletel signal was not the fact that … Islamic Republic has never entered the battle of war. The battle of a little bit like a slap, a little bit, is a little bit and a little bit. Also, both parties can walk away and save the face and say that both of them won, and they did technically, because there was no war, so there are no technical loses. ” , Amir Hamidafaffar, Content Creator and Video Editor, Isfahan, Iran
“As a Lebanese with a business in Saudi and UAE I want it to end as soon as possible. We are standing at the same distance from not liking both countries. [Iran and Israel] And they are so flexible that we are not worried, but want it to end. , , Came Khauri, Lebanese Entrepreneur, Dubai
‘Hopefully this is the end of it’
“For me personally as a Swiss citizen, I feel safe in Dubai. But I feel very strange, living a normal life, posting on social media, it seems wrong. It seems wrong. It seems wrong. Currently mainly concerned about the flight situation – while others are afraid of their lives. – Luisa, Working in Swiss expat Dubai
“I hate waking up and wonder what happened. I do not know what this area will look like in the morning. I should have got out of here as soon as possible, as much as I have planned, now I am trapped if the flights live on the ground. But hopefully it is its end and it is not bad from here.” , H. in Dubai, American expat
“There is a deep feeling of fear – not only the war, but something uncontrolled. We are living under the shadow of a growing existence threat, where the future seems somewhat delicate and uncertain. And yet, with that fear, there is a frequent hope: this moment of crisis can be an important point to do something better.” , Cochlend Elkayam Levi, Chairman of Civil Commission, Central Israel
“My family is fine thanks to God … I think I am more worried than him. Holy S–like this, it’s it or never now or never. [for the Iranian regime to fall]To panic so. To be so hopeful. To cry a lot. To express happiness about. It is currently a goddam bipolar experience to be Iranian. , – S., Iranian expat and consultant in Dubai
,I am originally worried about safe haveons like Dubai which is no longer safe because USA and Israel can act freely with any international rules and impureness. That the rest of the region of this region will be dragged into this war because there is ego. Will my property price be affected? Will Dubai no longer a safe place to live? Will my relatives be safe in Iraq, seeing that they are so close to Iran? , , F. F. in Dubai, Iraqi expat and lawyer
“” There is a feeling of relief that Iran’s atom, disruptive abilities and the curtains are severely humiliated-but also deeply concerned about the risk of regional war on another full scale, and is unlikely to catch a delicate ceasefire. Starting a war is one thing – it is another to end it. You will be surprised whether the Middle East is wasted for ‘wars’ forever, or if true conflict prevention and peace building will take root anytime. , , Meazen Hayek, Media Advisor, Dubai
“Neighbors countries have to unite and pressure for any opportunity for peace to prevent their tireless attacks on Iran immediately. The current environment is a bit scary for many people and will negatively affect tourism, real estate, investors, and overall security in the Persian Bay. Am.” , K., Energy Consultation Founder, European Exat in Dubai
