'There are constant thuds' - Kilkenny man trying to escape Dubai after Iran missile strikes
Brendan Morrissey says Dubai is not collapsing as social media has been portraying after US President Donald Trump joined Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu in missile strikes on Iran, plunging the wider Middle East region into uncertainty
A Kilkenny man who is currently in the United Arab Emirates has shared what it's like there at the moment as he attempts to travel to safety.
Brendan Morrissey regularly visits the Middle East and is currently there to launch a platform that will help deliver trauma-informed care courses to children in Gaza.
His experience there this time round is very different from any of his previous visits.
"There are constant thuds that don’t echo the way construction does; it lingers. From my hotel window, I’ve watched streaks of light cut across the sky. Missiles neutralised mid-air by the UAE defence forces. It’s technically impressive but disorienting," Brendan explained.
He added how you can see smoke and debris, but it doesn't look like the "cinematic collapse" as social media is suggesting.
Roads are working, just quiet, and cafés remain open.
In terms of the atmosphere in Dubai, Brendan says there's "tension but not hysteria."
"The city feels like it’s bracing rather than panicking. The strangest part is the coexistence of two realities. Online, it’s being narrated as a collapse by stupid influencers. On the ground, it feels like a city determined to continue functioning," he added.
People are being told very little about what's happening, and any information shared is done so with "calm language" and "assurances of control."
A government briefing that took place earlier today highlighted how the UAE Ministry of Defence's air defence forces have intercepted and destroyed 152 ballistic missiles and 506 drones out of 165 ballistic missiles and 541 drones launched from Iran since February 18.
Between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, three people have died, and 58 have been injured.
As Brendan attempts to leave Dubai, he hopes to end up in Oman, but if that's not possible, he will head for Saudi, towards Riyadh.
"I’ve booked backup routes that only exist in theory until the airspace holds steady long enough to use them. Right now, travel feels less like planning and more like waiting for a window," he shared.
He has been advised by a friend in the Ministry of Defence to avoid getting on a plane while there are so many missiles being fired.
He was also told, "Don’t panic to get out."
"I have a backup flight booked to Geneva and Dublin should the airspace reopen long enough to make departure possible. For now, movement depends less on intention and more on permission," Brendan said.
"You have to stay prepared under these circumstances and be prepared for the worst," he added.
The authorities in the UAE are assuring people there that they are safe and have been highlighting that there are "comprehensive and integrated" defense systems in place.
For Brendan, his bag remains packed until he gets the opportunity to go.