Zach Cairns, 32, who moved to Dubai six years ago, claimed he would ‘take drone strikes over rain any day’ depsite hearing an Iranian missile behind his home
A Brit has claimed he would “take drone strikes over rain any day” despite hearing a missile behind his home.
Zach Cairns, 32, moved to Dubai six years ago and said London rent prices and the weather pushed him to leave the UK. But Iranian missile strikes over the weekend left him feeling quite uneasy – especially as one went off behind his house.
Despite the Dubai being on red alert, Zach claims he would take it over moving back to Britain. “I’d take drone strokes over 200 days of rain,” the owner of Cairns & Co opticians, from Portadown, said.
“I heard some bangs and later in the day, we saw some interceptor missiles behind our home. I was concerned and a bit uneasy; but not in fear.”
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Zach, who says 80% of his patients are either British or Irish, claimed the general atmosphere in Dubai is “business as usual”. He said: “All my patients are turning up. Yesterday, we even went for a Sunday roast.
“The Government here is good at keeping people up to date with messages and on social media. They take the safety of residents and tourists very seriously. I don’t see any reason to panic particularly.”
But other Brits have a different attitude. Poppy Owen, 34, went into “panic mode” as her home shook from nearby explosions.
She said: “When I drove home, I saw [the missile] in the sky behind my house in the desert. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“I just ran into the house to make sure my family were OK. I went into total shock, fear and filled with anxiety as to what was going to happen next.”
Poppy got an emergency alert from the Government at around midnight. It read: “Due to the current situation, a potential missile threats, Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions.” [sic]
The freelance creative marketing director, from Bangor, said: “It’s quietened down today, but there were loud noises at around three in the morning. Most people are getting on with their day while still being fearful of the unknown.
“We’re still hearing missiles. We don’t know how long this is going to go on for. The children are off school today and for another couple of days. We’re just staying indoors and not travelling anywhere.”
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK Government is “looking at all options to support our people” in the Middle East as a small number of flights departed from Abu Dhabi.
Etihad Airways flight EY67, flying to London’s Heathrow airport and likely to be carrying stranded UK nationals, has departed from the United Arab Emirates capital. It is expected to land at 7.14pm at Terminal 4 of the west London airport.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated that 102,000 British nationals had registered their presence in the region. She said a total of about 300,000 British citizens were in Gulf countries targeted by Iran.
