"We are at this juncture pint. Are we going to maintain the view of the world that we had before, or not? Is this war going to mutate our DNA?"

"[The DNA of the United Arab Emirates, and much of the Persian Gulf region was coded for] connectivity and economic relations despite political strife."

"The whole world economy is [now] Iran's human shield. This is now Iran's new-found nuclear weapon." 

Mohammed Baharoon, director general, Dubai research centre B'huth

 

"[In attacking so grievously, Iran attempted to] break the model we successfully embodied."

"They failed, because the people stayed. We are already building resilience."

"We know that a military solution alone will not work." 

Anonymous U.A.E. official

 

"We can be under no illusion: this has gone on longer than any of us imagined."

"Trump doesn't inspire any confidence. You hear there is a deal, then you hear bombs."

"There is an incredible amount of interest in being here. Everyone understands: ending the war] is not in their hands."

Cherif Sleiman, chief revenue officer, Property Finder real estate company   

Brookfield Place at the Dubai International Financial Centre on June 10. (Katarina Premfors for The Washington Post)

 

 In Dubai, schools have reopened now that the missile and drone alerts no longer arrest people's attention to impending danger. The UAE's financial centre is back in business. Traffic has resumed its street-choking normalcy. All seems back to normal, but uncertainty over new strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel occasioning the certainty of the Islamic Republic reacting by targeting its near neighbours remains. An active return to the conflict haunts the minds of those who had enjoyed their lives in this thriving metropolis.

 

Mohammed Baharoon's mind returns to the reality of Iran's regime's use of violence for the purpose of pressuring its adversaries. And should the regime continue its control of the Strait of Hormuz its ramifications in continuing to strangle local economics is certain to have its impact beyond the Gulf as a financial and logistical linchpin. 

 

The unforeseen was realized when the aerial bombardments of the United States and Israel, and the pinpoint assassinations of key Iranian figures led fundamentalist Islamists in the country to a devious scheme demonstrating it had no need to develop a nuclear device when control of the Strait could accomplish economic Armageddon.

 

When the war was yet young, the United Arab Emirates saw a barrage of over 2,500 missile and drone strikes rain down, mostly in the most populated of its seven emirates, Dubai. The strikes were a menacing warning to the U.A.E. that its reputation as an oasis of wealth and stability was vulnerable to punishment by the Islamic Republic. 

Residents said there are quiet signs everywhere that things are not quite right, from the closed yoga studios to the exodus of students from international schools. (Katarina Premfors for The Washington Post)

 

Of Dubai's four million residents, 90 percent are comprised of foreign citizens living and working in the futuristic city. Landmarks such as the Fairmont Hotel and the Birj Al Arab, Dubai International Airport and buildings in the financial centre were targeted by Iranian bombs. Following the ceasefire in April those strikes decelerated and halted, enabling many resident who had left, to return. The stock marketed rebounded and though tourism was badly wounded, construction is ongoing. 

 

The 80 percent hotel occupancy in Dubai had dropped precipitately to 10 percent and no signs yet have arisen that tourism will rebound any time soon. Should the current uncertainty drag on, according to Cherif Sleiman, families may decide to leave and enroll their children at schools in their countries of origin. Living in Dubai the past 20 years, Sleiman is staying, committed to the U.A.E. and trustful of the government.

 

Cherif Sleiman fears ongoing uncertainty around the war will cause more families to leave Dubai. (Katarina Premfors for The Washington Post)

 

 In neighbourhoods at the outskirts of the city, where migrant workers live, the war's effects is felt particularly among those who represent the working backbone of the Dubai economy. Migrant workers who support their families back home suffered most of the war casualties. These workers were laid off en masse, as hotels and restaurants closed while the conflict proceeded. Higher fuel and food prices afflict them most acutely. "It is not OK, but we are managing for now" security guard, 52-year-old Ghanian Isaac Antwi stated.

 

Despite the fear of  higher prices, Ugandan Simon Obbo, 27, fails to recognize an option of leaving. "I still need to achieve my dream, he explained. "That dream is supporting my family." Alex, manager at one of the oldest companies, spoke of the current dilemma over future prospects. "Business is down 95 percent. We fear that this will not end, that it will become like Ukraine."

 

"It is not okay, but we are managing, for now,” Isaac Antwi, 52, said of rising food prices. (Katarina Premfors for The Washington Post)