Luisa Zissman, Petra Ecclestone, and Love Island stars post about ‘scariest, worst nights of our lives’ as they’re caught up in Iranian missile strikes in Dubai

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Several celebrities living in Dubai have expressed fear and shared information online after Iranian missiles hit the Palm Jumeirah area.

Celebrities like Luisa Zissman, Petra Ecclestone, and Arabella Chi have expressed their concerns after becoming caught in the fallout from recent US airstrikes in the Middle East, which have led to widespread retaliatory attacks.

People across the UAE described the recent strikes as terrifying, calling them the “scariest, worst nights of their lives.” Many were frightened by the continuous loud bangs while taking shelter in their homes.

They told their followers they are currently safe because air defenses are stopping most of the incoming missiles and drones, but described how frightening it was to hear explosions throughout the night.

Luisa Zissman, who moved from the UK to Dubai with her family and horses last year to avoid the cold weather and increasing crime, was among the first celebrities to share updates on the current situation.

Luisa shared a photo of herself taken outdoors with a message about Dubai. She mentioned hearing loud noises and urged her followers in the UAE to stay safe.

Let me tell you, the other night was genuinely terrifying – one of the scariest and worst nights of my life, honestly. I shared a bit about it on my Instagram story because it was just that impactful.

We’ve been dealing with some difficult personal issues lately, and coming to Dubai felt like a fresh start where we could finally feel secure. We were just starting to get settled when this unexpected thing happened, so it’s been a real shock.

Thankfully, we’re all safe. Last night was difficult, but I hope everyone is doing okay and we can get through this together. I just want to express my gratitude.

Petra explained she’s struggling to find a way to talk to her children – Lavinia, James, Andrew, and Minnie – about the situation, as they are currently living with her in Dubai.

She admitted she didn’t know what the future held, and found it upsetting to be constantly asked about it – wondering if things would ever get better, especially with the unsettling sounds at night.

I mostly focused on reassuring my children and letting them know everything would be alright. But as a parent, it’s hard because you don’t always know what to say or how to fix things. It was a really difficult time.

It’s hard to fathom what people throughout history, including my dad, experienced living through wars and facing that reality every single day. Thinking about kids going to school while carrying that kind of worry really struck me last night – it was a powerful realization.

Following the death of its Supreme Leader, Iran has been relentlessly attacking across the Middle East, including launching hundreds of missiles and drones targeting Dubai.

This morning, smoke was seen and explosions heard near Dubai International Airport. This follows a statement from Iran promising a large-scale offensive operation.

Following confirmation that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli operation – along with four of his family members and at least two top military officials – Tehran has begun retaliatory strikes.

Dubai was thrown into panic yesterday when Iranian drones attacked two famous hotels, the Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah, causing widespread fear among visitors.

The city, now home to many wealthy British expatriates, experienced more attacks this morning, with explosions heard throughout the area.

Petra’s husband, Sam Palmer, also spoke about the strikes, praising the military’s efforts to protect the area to his followers.

He expressed his gratitude for the kind messages, assuring everyone they were safe. He jokingly complained about people telling him to ‘stay safe,’ feeling it implied safety was a choice. He sarcastically wondered what people expected him to do – deliberately put himself in danger – and added with a touch of humor that he was getting too old for such things.

It was quite frightening when all our phones went off at 12:30 last night with a government alert about incoming missiles. We could hear loud explosions, which seemed to be our defense systems intercepting them – they’re doing a fantastic job. Keep up the great work, everyone; you’re keeping us all safe.

It definitely seems worse when you see it on the news, but it is frightening. My children and I are all scared – I’ve never experienced a missile attack before. I really hope this ends quickly. I’m so grateful for all the kind messages we’ve received.

It’s good to know you’re thinking of me, and I’m glad if I can make you smile. Just a reminder to take care of yourself. Reach out to someone today – even a quick text can make a difference, and it might stand out among all their messages. Seriously, please stay safe. Thanks.

Dubai’s airports are temporarily closed and all flights have been stopped because of safety issues. Officials are advising people not to attempt to travel at this time.

Reality TV star Arabella says her brother, who was visiting her, is unable to leave Dubai due to the current situation and will remain there until it’s sorted out.

She expressed her gratitude, saying she wanted to thank everyone who had reached out to them. She added that their messages meant a great deal to them.

Things are really frightening right now. The last 24 hours have been unlike anything I’ve ever gone through. Thankfully, we’re all safe, and that’s what matters most. You can still hear explosions while I’m speaking. We’re staying home together, and my brother and his wife are with us. They were planning to fly back to the UK today, but I expect their flights will be cancelled.

It really makes you think about what’s important. It’s genuinely frightening – I keep saying that because it’s true. When you don’t know what’s happening and can hear things nearby, it’s impossible not to be scared. Last night, we actually saw them close to our home, and it was terrifying.

It’s actually a good thing Gigi is too young to fully understand what’s happening. I have friends whose kids do understand, and I really feel for them right now.

If you’re also in Dubai, let’s all support each other and look out for one another right now. We’re being as careful as possible and staying home together.

I’m so grateful for all the kind messages and support I’ve received. It truly means the world to me.

Sammy Root, known from Love Island, shared that his trip to Dubai got off to a rough start – he arrived in the UAE on the very same day strikes began.

Sammy humorously lamented his first day in Dubai, tweeting, ‘Get me out of Dubai immediately!’

Kady McDermott, who is moving to Dubai to live with her partner Henry Simmons, shared her thoughts on the strikes. She confirmed the move will happen in late 2025.

I’m so grateful for all the messages checking in on me. It means the world to me. It’s been a frightening time here in the UAE, seeing missiles in the sky. Thankfully, the UAE government is doing a fantastic job protecting everyone by intercepting them. Please, everyone stay indoors and stay safe during this scary situation.

Shortly after arriving at her hotel, 40-year-old Israeli socialite Hofit Golan shared a video showing rockets and explosions hitting the building, documenting the start of the attacks.

Hofit shared an update this morning, explaining that her building’s alarm went off at 6:30 am, but she wasn’t sure what to do or where to go.

She posted pictures of scattered debris and asked people to remain inside and stay safe.

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2026-03-01 13:36