As social media buzzes with dramatic claims, residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah describe a different reality on the ground—one marked by normalcy, trust in leadership, and a rejection of fearmongering.
SHARJAH – While social media algorithms push alarming videos and speculative headlines regarding the latest regional developments, residents across the UAE are pushing back against the narrative of chaos, describing a lived reality that remains remarkably stable.
In interviews with Khaleej Times, citizens and expatriates alike acknowledged the seriousness of the regional situation but stressed that the exaggeration online does not reflect the calm atmosphere in the country’s cities.
“We are not saying nothing is happening, and everything is fine and dandy,” said Mohammed Daqqaq, a communications director based in Abu Dhabi. “But the way it’s being portrayed outside—as if there is chaos or a war—that’s simply not what we are experiencing on the ground.”
Daqqaq noted that while he checked the news, daily life continued uninterrupted. He described a routine trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai with normal traffic, and a shopping experience devoid of panic-buying. “It was a normal weekly shop,” he said.
The ‘Outside Noise’ vs. Ground Reality
For many, the most distressing aspect of the past few days hasn’t been the situation itself, but the frantic messages from worried family members abroad consuming exaggerated content.
Shahed Mardini, founder of Biscuits & More and a mother of two, recalled receiving a panicked call from her mother in Damascus, who claimed to have seen videos of explosions in Abu Dhabi on social media. “I reassured her that ‘there is nothing. We are at the mall playing with the kids’,” Mardini said. She described Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi as bustling with relaxed crowds, even as messages circulated online.
Muna Tamim, a first aid trainer who lived through the 2006 war in Lebanon, offered a stark contrast based on experience. “In Lebanon, shells were falling on buildings… Here, there is nothing like that. You hear a sound, and then it’s gone,” she said. Tamim criticized the hyperbolic narratives, including talk of a “third world war,” stating they bore no resemblance to daily life. “The media outside is making a storm out of nothing,” she added.
Caution, Not Chaos
Residents were careful to distinguish between reasonable caution and blind panic. While malls and roads remained open, some social gatherings and corporate iftars have seen cancellations. However, residents attribute this to personal precaution rather than public disorder.
“It’s not a government decision—it’s personal fear,” Daqqaq explained. “If parents are scared, they won’t go out. But I went to the mall at night. Shops were open. Parking was full, as usual.”
The Foundation of Trust
A recurring theme among those interviewed was an enduring trust in the UAE’s leadership and crisis management protocols. A viral post by Samira Boudiab, stranded abroad while her children remained in Dubai, encapsulated this sentiment: “The difference is trust. Trust that the safety and security of people are always the priority in the UAE.”
Daqqaq echoed this, stating the public confidence is grounded in reality. “It’s not delusional,” he said. “It’s based on how this country has handled crises in the past—and how it is handling this one now.”
As misinformation continues to spread, the message from residents is unified: caution is reasonable, fear is human, but panic fueled by exaggeration serves no one.
“Life didn’t stop,” Mardini concluded. “We adapted, we stayed aware—and we kept living.”
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