An American consultant described the terrifying scene after Iranian airstrikes struck major landmarks in Dubai and disrupted travel across the United Arab Emirates. Kristy Ellmer of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, said explosions rattled her hotel and forced tourists to shelter in place as tensions escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
On Saturday, Iranian missiles and drones hit Dubai International Airport, the Burj Al Arab Hotel, and Palm Jumeirah. Ellmer, who works for Boston Consulting Group, said she and her husband were relaxing on the beach when the blasts began. “You hear the explosion, you feel it,” she said. “You just see a bunch of white clouds.” She added, “It feels like a shock wave. You feel a vibration through your body.”
Flights scheduled for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday were canceled as airspace shut down for more than 48 hours. Ellmer booked multiple departures later in the week, hoping to secure a way home. “We were getting multiple text message alerts from the local government, as well as the U.S. government, warning us to shelter and stay in place,” she said. “I’ve never been in a place that had bombs floating above.”
Iranian strikes reportedly set parts of the Burj Al Arab ablaze and injured civilians in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Dubai Media Office said, “The safety and well-being of residents and visitors remain the highest priority.”
Despite the danger, Ellmer said daily life continues. “There hasn’t been a sense of panic.” Still, she and her husband packed a go-bag as sirens echoed through the city.
