The Iran-US-Israel war has entered its fourth week today on Monday, March 23. Over the course, the UAE authorities have been defending attacks from Iran while also ensuring safety and normalcy for the residents of the country.
According to globalmediainsight.com, about 9.0M expats live in the country, belonging to over 200 nationalities. With fruitful sectors including renewable energy, healthcare, technology, real estate and e-commerce, the country is bustling with new opportunities and people.
However, the fear of regional tensions and instability has caused widespread rumours about the actual situation in the country, leading to panic among expats who had migrated back home for the time being.
In this situation, an Indian expat's post on the current situation in Dubai has quickly gained traction on X. Varinder Bansal, founder of Omkara Capital, took to the social media app to share how he had travelled to the city from Mumbai via Emirates and contrary to the social media narratives suggesting that the city is empty and silent, the flight was full and people were still travelling back.
Bansal, whose post has gained 1.1M views, explained that there was a visible contrast. "The city definitely feels lighter—traffic is down significantly, and tourist presence is visibly lower. I would estimate traffic levels to be down by ~50%."
However, life is normal in Dubai. He shared stepping out extensively to malls, restaurants and meeting friends and added that there is "no visible fear" among residents as they go on with their routines without hesitation.
"I visited Mall of the Emirates on Saturday evening, and it was bustling. Not overcrowded like peak tourist season, but certainly not a “ghost town” as often portrayed. Shops were active, some restaurants were full, and people were out enjoying themselves."
The entrepreneur added that there was no panic as being circulated online. However, areas closer to the airport such as Midrif, had experienced disruption as residents reported frequent drone sightings. In areas like Downtown Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, the impact appeared "minimal" he added.
Dubai's real estate and future life
Bansal, a former fund manager and former head of research and corporate editor at CNBC India, also analysed the real estate situation in the city. "At the higher end—villas above AED 20 million—there are signs of correction, roughly in the 10–20% range. But, deals are not getting closed in this segment as well. However, the mid-market segment (AED 2–5 million) remains relatively stable," he wrote. He advised people to buy up properties if someone "claims" that the Dubai real estate has crashed 50-60%. While tourism, real estate, construction and smaller firms may struggle and take time to recover, things will be normal soon, he added.
"Yes, Dubai feels different today—less crowded, less chaotic, and quieter due to fewer tourists. But it is far from being a ghost town. The city is functioning, people are working, and daily life continues. The overall sentiment is simple: cautious, but calm. No panic. Just a collective hope that the situation stabilises soon," he concluded tagging the Dubai Media Office.
Tens of thousands of tourists have left the UAE since the US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, 2026. While social media posts and rumours circulate panic about the country's situation online, authorities have been urging the public to prevent sharing unverified information to maintain normalcy and calm as they tackle the ongoing developments.
