Arabella Chi poses in a bikini with baby daughter Gigi as she shares carefree snaps from Dubai while expats rush to flee the Gulf state amid ‘rising panic’

by

Despite growing concerns and an exodus of some expats from Dubai, Arabella Chi is continuing her life as usual in the city.

The 34-year-old former Love Island contestant moved to the UAE last year and was frightened by the recent missile strikes. She initially told her 1.2 million followers that she was preparing a storage cupboard as a shelter for her children, clearing it out as a precaution.

The influencer returned to her usual posts the next day, sharing photos over the past week of dates with her boyfriend, Billy Henty, and relaxing poolside with her daughter, Gigi.

Arabella spent Sunday at the beach with her daughter, taking photos while soaking up the sun in a white bikini. She shared the pictures with the caption ‘sandy toes’ and didn’t address the current problems happening back home in her city.

Following the recent conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which caused disruption in the UAE, Arabella – who recently explained why she prefers living abroad rather than returning to the UK – is among the many celebrities highlighting the positive aspects of life in Dubai.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve noticed a change in how some influencers and social media personalities are approaching things. After the strikes continued for a second weekend, a lot of them seemed to be adjusting their perspectives and how they’re communicating with their followers.

The UAE reports that Iran has launched 238 ballistic missiles towards its territory since the recent US-Israeli military actions began. Of those, 221 were intercepted and destroyed, with only two actually hitting the UAE.

However, Iran has also used its ‘suicide drones’ to launch attacks on the Emirates.

A drone strike overnight in two of Dubai’s most luxurious neighborhoods killed one person and caused fires in two high-rise apartment buildings on Saturday.

After an Iranian drone was shot down, debris from it struck the 88-story 23 Marina tower in Dubai Marina, causing smoke to rise from the building.

Following a drone strike on the Azayez Tower, a tall building in Dubai’s Al Barsha district, a Pakistani driver tragically died when debris fell onto his vehicle.

Dubai International Airport temporarily shut down on Saturday following a large explosion caused by a possible Iranian drone strike near the airport. Passengers were evacuated from planes as a precaution.

Vicky Pattison, known from the show Geordie Shore, has let her fans know she and her husband, Ercan Ramadan, are trying to leave Dubai.

Vicky, 32, shared that they drove for 11 hours to Oman on Sunday, hoping to catch a flight back to the UK. This long journey was necessary after their previous three flights were cancelled due to growing concerns and disruptions.

Vicky and Ercan decided against flying to Australia or New Zealand. Instead, they wanted to get back home to their dogs, Milo and Max, as soon as they could, and safely.

She shared photos from their recent trip to Oman and explained their recent silence online. They hadn’t wanted to say anything that could be seen as insensitive or exaggerated, especially with everything changing so quickly and causing so much worry.

Hey everyone, just wanted to give you a quick update! We’ve been getting so many lovely messages checking in on us, and we’re truly grateful. Things got a little tricky with travel – after three cancelled flights, it became clear our trip to Australia and New Zealand wasn’t going to happen this time. So, we quickly shifted gears and focused on getting home safely and as efficiently as possible. We’re all good, just a bit travel-weary!

She continued, explaining that while many people still in Dubai felt safe and relaxed, they wanted to return home to their children, jobs, and everyday lives, and they believed Oman offered the best way to do that.

My friends and I traveled from Dubai to Oman with a private car service, @skyevipcarrental. They were professional, affordable, and provided a comfortable ride.

Vicky explained that the entire trip took approximately 11 hours, with about 2 to 3 hours spent going through border control and checking paperwork. The cost was roughly £130 per person.

If you’re currently in Dubai and trying to find a way home through Oman, I’ll be posting details on my account, @vickysvacays. I don’t want to clutter things up here. We’re hoping to make the most of our remaining vacation days and see some of Oman while we’re here.

The past week has been difficult and understandably made many people feel uneasy and insecure. We’ve all faced challenging times, and it’s important for us to recognize how fortunate we are.

We’re so relieved to be heading home and are sending our thoughts to anyone who’s feeling scared or uneasy, especially with everything happening in the world right now.

We want to express our gratitude to @addressbeachresort and @uaegov for ensuring our safety, keeping us calm, and providing updates during this situation. We’ll continue to share information and hope to be home within the next few days.

A social media influencer stuck in a luxury hotel in Dubai says British citizens who’ve left the city were fortunate, as she’s facing a £3,000 bill for expenses while she’s unable to leave.

Lily Mann, age 25, and her boyfriend, James Shires, 33, began a week-long vacation in Dubai on February 26th.

After their Etihad Airways flight to Manchester Airport was cancelled, the couple has been trying for the past two days to find a way home. They were faced with either paying over £10,000 each for a one-way ticket or waiting an unknown amount of time for another flight.

Following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, and Iran’s response with counter-attacks across the region, thousands of British travelers are now stuck in the Middle East.

According to reports on Sunday, the UK has cut the time it takes to prepare the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales for potential deployment to the region in half.

Ms. Mann, a freelance social media manager, explained to the Daily Mail that return flights are currently unavailable.

She said: ‘We have been very, very unlucky and people who have got out have been very lucky.

Currently, the only flights available are very expensive, costing around £10,000 for business or first class.

This situation means they’re still stuck at the FIVE Luxe JBR hotel, and extending their vacation is costing them more than £3,000 when you add in the price of dog care.

Read More

2026-03-09 13:21