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British and Irish residents currently living in the Middle East are being advised to enroll in registration schemes designed to keep them informed and safe amid escalating tensions in the region. Senior security officials from the UK government recently conducted a briefing attended virtually by the deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, alongside the first ministers from Scotland and Wales, to discuss the ongoing situation. Emma Little-Pengelly acknowledged concerns among people in Northern Ireland regarding the unrest overseas.
Recent missile and drone strikes have been reported across various parts of the Gulf, including Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Bill Robinson, originally from Portadown in County Armagh and now a resident of Dubai for the past 15 years, described the incident from his vantage point near the airport. According to the 57-year-old, though several aerial threats were intercepted, no debris fell nearby. He shared, “Just today, we were all up in the pool, lots of us from Ireland and Northern Ireland, and life was just going on as normal, even though there were missiles an hour, two hours before that.”
Many locals and expatriates alike maintain a relatively calm stance despite the violence. Robinson explained that while his daughter—a trained lawyer—prefers staying in the basement due to fear, most of his Northern Irish and Irish acquaintances remain quite unconcerned. He also mentioned friends residing closer to the US air force base who exhibit more nervousness about the conflict.
Another perspective comes from Zach Cairns, also from Portadown, working as an optician in Dubai for six years. He recounted hearing explosions before any official announcements arrived and noted that local authorities had warned residents about incoming drone attacks. Cairns remarked, “The general consensus in Dubai at the minute is almost, be careful, but pretty much go on as usual.” He added that while everyday life continues, the airport closures create uncertainty—especially for tourists—and the disruption of imported goods could pose a greater threat if the conflict is prolonged. Emma Little-Pengelly highlighted that around 100,000 UK citizens live and work in the wider Middle East region and stressed the importance of keeping them safe, emphasizing the UK government’s current advice to seek shelter and stay informed.
On the Irish government’s stance, Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee has urged Irish citizens to “shelter in place” rather than attempt travel by land or other means. McEntee noted, “A large number of Irish citizens, in particular in the UAE, are already on our citizen registration platform, with several hundred registering yesterday.” She cautioned against attempts to leave the region, describing the situation as unique due to the closure and attacks on local and regional airports. She remarked that this approach aligns with the common strategy adopted by EU countries amid the ongoing crisis
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