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UAE expats, ranging from celebrities to long-time residents, many have responded with overwhelming love and admiration for the country. Messages of unity, a hashtag trend and praise for the country’s leaders are just some of the ways they have responded.

For Natasha Hatherall, Founder and CEO of TishTash Group, Dubai has been home for 16 years and leaving is “the last resort”. She said she was inundated with messages from her friends and family in the UK asking if she was evacuating or leaving. “I’ve not even thought about it,” she admitted. “The way the country’s leadership has handled everything has really created trust and this sense of security means residents feel confident staying, supporting their communities and continuing life.”

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Natasha Hatherall, Founder and CEO of TishTash Communications

She said that apart from owning homes, multiple businesses, pets and building her entire life in this country, she had other reasons to want to stay back. “What makes the UAE feel like home, even in uncertain moments, is the strength of the community,” she said. “People genuinely look out for each other here. Neighbours check in, friends rally around and daily life continues with calm reassurance.  We may not have our immediate family always here, but I have some of the best friends in Dubai and we rally and support each other in the most fiercely loyal way.”

She said that combined with the country’s sense of safety and leadership, this community feeling creates a sense of belonging that makes many residents choose to stay.

Return to Dubai

Some residents who were stuck outside the country when the airspace closure came into effect,chose to return to the UAE rather than go to their own countries.

Dubai expat Anne Mathew was in Georgia with her husband and daughter for a quick break with a tour group when the airspace closure began. After being stranded there for four days, the group was able to return to the UAE on Thursday. “It was a worrisome time, but the thought never even crossed our minds to return to our home country,” she said. “I was born and raised in the UAE, and this is the only home I have ever known. We have built our whole lives here. I want to stay in the country through every up and down and I cannot even dream of living anywhere else.”

She was not the only one. Previously, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov tweeted that he couldn’t wait to get back to the country, pointing out that given Europe’s crime rates, Dubai was “statistically safer even with missiles flying”- an observation that Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk agreed with.

Indian expat Mohammad Rafeeq Siddiqui has been a UAE resident since 1979, and he said that he is very happy to continue staying here. “For almost four decades, I have lived here, built my life and raised my family,” he said. “Now, my grandchildren are growing up here. Ever since the escalations began on Saturday, I did not even feel a glimmer of fear in my heart. Why should I? I know that the leaders of this country will take the best possible care of us. For me, it doesn’t matter how long or how intense the escalation will go on, I want to stay put here.”

Mohammad Rafeeq Siddiqui with his wife

Social media

Some residents took to social media to post positive stories about the UAE. Kate Midttun, Founder and CEO of Acorn Strategy took to LinkedIn to start a hashtag #OurUAEStory. “Statistically, it's still safer to be in the UAE than in many other countries around the world,” she wrote in her post. “Maybe that should be a wake-up call for leaders elsewhere.”

She called on her followers to reclaim their story about living in the UAE by posting a selfie of their day and using the hashtag. “Let's hold the international media accountable for the inaccuracies and over sensationalising of our reality, let's show what it's really like to be here right now.”

Several other UAE residents including celebrities and other residents have taken to social media to voice their support for their country and intent to stay here for now. 

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