CNN - Dubai’s social influencer-cultivated reputation of being a safe haven just went up in smoke

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/06/travel/dubai-influencer-lifestyle-iran-strikes ​
Iran’s recent strikes on Dubai have done considerable damage to Dubai’s reputation as a “safe haven.”
And the front lines of the public relation war are a glamorous cadre of high profile influencers based there. “You live in Dubai, aren’t you scared?”
They’re putting on a collective brave face, sharing scenic footage of the UAE emirate and reassuring clips of its leaders. They say they’re not scared, with suspicially vague explanations such as, “because I know who protects us.”
Although the majority of the missiles aimed at Dubai have been intercepted, the attacks have damaged some of its most famous landmarks, including the five-star Fairmont The Palm and Jumeirah Burj Al Arab hotel.
‘Ultimate nightmare’

An Iranian projectile is intercepted in the sky over Dubai on March 1, 2026. Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images
“This is Dubai’s ultimate nightmare as its very essence depended on being a safe oasis in a troubled region,” Cinzia Bianco, an expert on the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf region at the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a post shared on X.
“There might be a way to be resilient but there is no going back.”

Dubai’s population has grown rapidly in recent years, surpassing four million for the first time last year according to official data, with over 90% of newcomers made up of foreigners.
The emirate has been steadily attracting international entrepreneurs, professionals, and of course, influencers.
In fact, Dubai has become a global influencer hub in recent years, with an estimated 50,000 calling the destination home.
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Its tax-free status and sunny climate have proved alluring for many, along with its record-breaking skyscrapers, gigantic shopping malls and man-made islands.


Dubai’s population has been rapidly increasing in recent years, with over 90% of newcomers made up of foreigners. 
Raghed Waked/Reuters
“Influencers are arriving faster than brunch reservations fill up on a Saturday. Every day, new digital personalities touch down at [Dubai International] with a dream, a camera, and a game plan,” Samet Özetçi, co-founder of Walther Kranz Agency, told Arabian Business in 2025.
Dubai has honed in on this by launching a government campaign, the Creators HQ, aimed at entrepreneurs and introducing a renewable 10-year “Golden Visa,” while the Beautiful Destinations Academy, which describes itself as the “world’s first” dedicated training program for travel content creators, launched in Dubai last year.

Up until very recently, the Dubai hashtag has instantly conjured up carefully curated influencer posts displaying a luxurious lifestyle filled with fun and glamor.
However, these picture-perfect images are often dismissed as advertisements that ignore the far less glamorous issues in the destination, including human rights abuses.
The Iran strikes have understandably been dominating recent social media posts.
‘It was terrifying’

Model and influencer Petra Ecclestone, from the UK, who recently relocated to Dubai, described the strikes as "terrifying." 
Dave Benett/Getty Images
“We fled one place searching for peace, and last night reminded us how fragile that feeling of safety can be. It was terrifying,” model and influencer Petra Ecclestone wrote in a post shared at the weekend, describing Saturday as “one of the scariest, worst nights of my life.”
“It was terrifying. But we are safe.”

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