An Irishman in Dubai has said he feels the situation now feels “very much under control”, after a weekend in which Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones at the city. 

On Saturday, the United States and Israel struck various cities across the Persian nation, in what President Trump called a "preemptive attack". Among the casualties was Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Tehran responded by targeting US’s Middle Eastern Allies, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait. 

Dubai

In the UAE, at least three people have been killed and dozens more injured. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish journalist John Hayes, who is currently based in Dubai, said the city was experiencing a “lull” but he could still hear the roar of UAE fighter jets patrolling the sky above him. 

 “On Saturday when this started happening, where I think a lot of us, including myself, trivialised what was happening, thinking this is something small, this will go away, this is just a very quick fire across,” he recalled. 

“But we knew very early on that the missiles were being intercepted and there's an amazing defence system in place here by the authorities, which has taken out pretty much all of the targets which were making their way in. 

“But we're talking about these projectiles which are flying over the house.”

3DX4234 A black plume of smoke rises from a warehouse at the industrial area of Sharjah City in the United Arab Emirates following reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Mr Hayes continued that he believes the city is now overall “very safe”, thanks to the skill of the UAE’s military in intercepting missiles. 

“We've had [three] casualties - obviously, any more than one is a disaster,” he said. 

“But we're hearing that that's from debris which has fallen from the missiles which have been taken out of the sky.

“And when I said it was a barrage, I'm talking 152 of the 165 missiles were destroyed. There was 541 drones sent in, 506 of those were intercepted as well.”

I am deeply concerned by developments in Iran and the real potential that exists for escalation and wider conflict in the region.

I strongly urge all parties to exercise restraint and to work to avoid that outcome. pic.twitter.com/KmQtVMxiW6

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 28, 2026

All flights to Dubai have been called until at least Wednesday, leaving many Irish people stranded in a city they had no inkling would come under attack. 

Flights to Dubai have been cancelled until Wednesday and the Government has issued remote learning orders for school children. 

“A lot of companies have decided upon their own devices to work from home for today and tomorrow - this is very much a 24-hour rolling issue whereby we're watching it update,” Mr Hayes said. 

“A lot of people are out doing their own thing, going to the pool, using this day to relax with the family. 

“And some people are feeling that element of fear, which of course is understandable if you haven't been in a situation like this before.”

Mr Hayes acknowledged that many Irish people will be feeling nervous, but added that the city feels well-defended. 

“There's a lot of scaremongering that's going on right now, certainly in the tabloid press, whereby people will be concerned for their family,” he said. 

“And that's very understandable. However, they need to realise that things are very much under control here.”

The Irish Government has advised Irish people in the region not to try and leave by land while airports are closed.

Main image: Dubai under attack. Picture by: Alamy.com.