‘Nobody could sleep last night’: Indian workers on edge as Iran attacks Dubai, Doha

For the last seven years, Rakib Sikdar has been working as a security guard in a residential building in Dubai.

The 37-year-old shares a room with six other Indian workers in a building in the busy commercial neighbourhood of Dubai Silicon Oasis.

On the evening of February 28, Sikdar had broken his Ramzan fast and was about to call his family back home in India, when his roommates asked him to step out.

“We ran outside and saw what seemed like a drone fall down,” Sikdar told Scroll from Dubai. “I recorded it on my phone.”

A few hours later, Sikdar said his friend, who lives near the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, shot a video of similar projectiles at the port, which is also an American naval base.

Indian workers and professionals living in the region were on edge as Iran carried out air strikes in cities of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and other Gulf states on Saturday and Sunday.

“Nobody could sleep last night,” Sikdar said. “Whenever we heard the sound of an explosion, people rushed out to the balcony.”

The attacks were in response to the United States and Israel’s attack on the country, which killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Over 9 million Indians live and work in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The Dubai International Airport, the landmark Burj Al Arab hotel, the Jebel Ali Port and a building in the Palm Jumeirah island were damaged in the attacks, the administration in Dubai said on Sunday.

Indian residents in Dubai and Doha, the capital city of Qatar, told Scroll that they were anxious about how the events in the region would play out. Some said that life continued at its normal pace, and that the UAE authorities were handling the crisis efficiently.

‘We can’t even go back’

Sikdar said he saw fighter jets in the Dubai sky on Sunday morning after Iran hit the Dubai International Airport.

He said the authorities in Dubai continue to send emergency alerts to their phones from time to time.

“Due to the current situation, a potential missile threat, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and [stay] away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions,” one of the alerts seen by Scroll read.

But Sikdar is now worried about fresh attacks by Iran on the US military establishment in the United Arab Emirates. “We are afraid of that as we are not far from the military camps,” he said.

The Al Dhafra air base, which is located in UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi, is a critical US Air Force hub. The Jebel Ali port is the US Navy’s largest port of call and hosts US aircraft carriers and other vessels.

Sikdar added: “We are scared but we can’t even go back because the airports are closed.” He did not identify the military base his residence is close to. When Scroll spoke to Sikdar on Sunday afternoon, he said explosions continued in the city. “Our building was left shaking.”

Three people – one each from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal – have been killed and 58 people injured in the “Iranian attacks”, according to the UAE’s Ministry of Defence.

In Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE, an Asian man was killed in a drone attack at Zayed international airport, authorities said in a statement.

‘Dubai is not burning’

An Indian lawyer who lives in Dubai Marina, near the Palm Jumeirah island, reported seeing smoke on the afternoon of February 28, followed by the interception of “an aerial projectile” later that evening.

In accordance with official safety advisories, residents in his neighbourhood remained indoors.

The following morning, the lawyer said he heard three distinct explosions. “The shockwaves were powerful enough to be felt inside the buildings,” the lawyer said.

But he emphasised the authorities’ proactive response in the face of the unnerving events. “They are taking care of everything,” he told Scroll. “There might be some panic over groceries and essential items, but the government is quite active and telling citizens not to hoard. ”

Several Indians Scroll spoke to echoed the lawyer. They said the situation remains calm, and normal life remains unaffected.

“Watching the Indian media news, you would think that Dubai is burning. It’s anything but that,” a 59-year-old Indian business owner, who did not want to be identified, told Scroll. “Obviously, there are challenges, but the UAE authorities have done a great job in intercepting these attacks, and sending out instructions. People are going about their daily lives while taking precautions.”

Another Indian doctor, who works at a Dubai hospital, also told Scroll that normal life remained unaffected.

“The private sector in Dubai continues to operate normally, with most business activities ongoing without any disruption,” the Dubai authorities said on Sunday evening.

‘We aren’t going out’

An Indian who has been living in Doha since 2017 with his two children and wife said he heard explosions that shook the windows of his home.

Explosions were heard in Doha on Saturday and Sunday, as Iran took aim at American assets in the region.

“Of course, everyone is scared,” the Indian resident said. “We don’t venture out except in great need.”

He said he saw four or five drones or projectiles falling to the ground without hitting the target.

Those who live near the Al Udeid air base, one of the largest US military bases in the region, saw many more projectiles, he told Scroll. “Many people have shot videos,” he said.

He said the Qatari government has allowed employees to work from home till further directions. “We are receiving timely warnings from the government before incoming attacks,” he said. “For now, essential services are being provided fairly well. We are trying to stock food items but as far as I know there does not seem to be any need to hoard medicine and fuel.”

Stranded at airport

Several Indians, including the badminton player PV Sindhu, were stranded at the airports in the region.

Ambarish Singh Bhadauria, a resident of North Mumbai and a BJP worker, said he was forced to shelter at his relative’s place in Dubai after flights to India were cancelled.

“I came here on a two-day visit and now I am stuck,” he said. “We have enough food for a week now. We are waiting and watching. We have no choice but to follow the directions of the local authorities.”