Exploring the Hidden Dynamics Behind the World’s Safest Country

The United Arab Emirates has been widely recognized for its effective measures in shielding its populace from Iranian missile and drone assaults. However, their prowess extends beyond just military defenses; they excel in the information arena as well. This effort is bolstered not by advanced weaponry, but by an undercover network of global influencers, including prominent British figures, who extol the virtues of Dubai, declaring it the “safest place on earth.”

Through investigative efforts, it has been revealed that beneath the glossy public relations veneer lies a starkly different reality. The UAE’s stringent regime stands ready to incarcerate or expel anyone whose actions might tarnish its image. Such measures underscore the importance the government places on maintaining its reputation.

In a move to control the narrative, authorities have even targeted individuals sharing authentic footage from a series of attacks that occurred on a Saturday. These incidents involved drones or debris causing destruction at the luxury Fairmont Hotel on Palm Jumeirah and setting the iconic Burj Al Arab ablaze.

Following the initial strikes, the Dubai Media Office swiftly addressed the situation, asserting that the circulation of “outdated images of past fire incidents” was intended to incite fear among residents and drive online engagement.

The Dubai Media Office announced within a few hours of the first strikes that ‘outdated images of past fire incidents’ in Dubai were being spread to stoke fear among the city’s residents and thereby garner clicks.

‘Legal action will be taken against those who publish or republish such content in violation of UAE law,’ the post read.

And in a country with one of the worst human rights records in the world, where severe restrictions on freedom of speech are backed up by an opaque justice system and widespread torture, no one takes such warnings lightly.

Criticising or insulting the UAE government or its institutions or spreading false rumours can result in fines of up to £200,000, or up to five years in prison, and possibly deportation. A situation made more intolerable if you own property there.

The UAE government has cracked down on anyone reposting genuine footage of the first of the attacks on Saturday, which included drones or debris causing damage at the five-star Fairmont Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai

Videos posted to social media on Tuesday evening showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the building, which local authorities revealed was hit by a missile

The US Consulate building in Dubai was up in flames after reportedly being struck by an Iranian drone

Damage caused by an Iranian drone strike at one of the buildings next to the headquarters of the US Navy base in Juffair 

Vicky Pattison (pictured in Dubai) has claimed the city is still ‘one of the safest places in the world’ – as the Daily Mail has learned that behind the glitzy, public relations messages lies a more menacing reality

Pattison told her followers that the portrayal of ‘Dubai being bombed’ was ‘hyperbolic’ and insisted that any damage was caused by falling debris

One influencer, insisting on anonymity, told the Daily Mail: ‘Influencers are terrified of speaking out against the Dubai government.

‘They believe it’s a huge risk to voice their fears or reveal what’s really happening and are worried they could be deported or lose their homes.

‘British citizens can be deported, lose their jobs, or even face arrest for stepping out of line.

‘Influencers and celebrities in particular have been instructed to present a rose-tinted image of Dubai on social media, acting as though everything is normal. They’ve been strictly warned not to scaremonger on platforms with massive followings.

‘The government wants the impression that life is continuing as usual – and any suggestion otherwise is treated as a serious offence.’

Another visitor told the Daily Mail that she wondered ‘how much we’re not being told about the frequent bangs in the distance which never get media coverage in the last few days’.

She added that when she was about to take a photo of a cratered pavement damaged by a drone or debris, a more seasoned Dubai resident stopped her, warning her darkly: ‘You don’t want to rock the boat.’

In a briefing on Tuesday by Brigadier General Abdulnasir Al-Humaidi, the official figures for the missile and drone strikes since the Iranian attack began were released.

Of 186 ballistic missiles launched, only one landed on UAE territory, with 172 intercepted and destroyed and 13 falling into the sea, the General said.

The defence against drones was less effective, with 57 of them getting through, out of 812 launched.

Gen Al-Humaidi spoke of three people killed (whose identities have never been released) and 68 others with ‘minor injuries’, none of whom have featured in the media.

As for the buildings and infrastructure, only ‘mild’ damage was caused, he said.

Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, currently holidaying in Dubai, was clearly following the official line when she told her followers that the portrayal of ‘Dubai being bombed’ was ‘hyperbolic’ and insisted that any damage was caused by falling debris.

She added: ‘Currently what we’ve been advised through government channels is that they are intercepting missiles competently and efficiently and what has subsequently caused damage and tragically harm is falling debris.’

British model and influencer Petra Ecclestone seemed to depart from the official script when she told her followers: ‘We came to Dubai to feel safe, and we finally felt like we were settling in, and now this has happened.’

But she posted in her Instagram stories: ‘This is what safety feels like. This is what resilience looks like. This is UAE.’

Luisa Zissman has said she was forced to retreat to her basement in Dubai after hearing four massive explosions while out at the park with her children 

Sharing a picture of one her children baking, she said: ‘Home baked bread rolls. Keeping the kids entertained and indoors.’ She added: ‘I do have faith that UAE defence will keep us safe’

British model and influencer Petra Ecclestone told her followers: ‘This is what safety feels like. This is what resilience looks like. This is UAE’

In another post, Ecclestone said the world was ‘waiting for Dubai to break…it didn’t’

She added: ‘Covid. Floods. Missiles. Every time, the same story told differently, the world watching, waiting for Dubai to break. Every time, the same answer. It didn’t.’

Former Apprentice star Luisa Zissman similarly described Dubai as ‘the safest country in the world’.

There are estimated to be more than 50,000 influencers in Dubai, lured there by not just the weather and its tax-free status, but also by a coordinated government campaign under the name Creators HQ, which offers generous help and advice with setting up their businesses.

For the most influential, there’s even a renewable 10-year ‘Golden Visa’ for them and their families – provided they say the right thing about Dubai, pushing its luxury lifestyle and above all, its safety.

Despite wave after wave of explosive ordnance and debris falling from the sky, Dubai was eerily quiet, with little sign anything was amiss, other than much lighter traffic on its massive network of six-lane highways.

Initial reports of panic buying in hypermarkets such as Lulu’s in the upmarket Al Barsha district had clearly come to nothing and shelves remained well stocked with orderly queues at the checkout.

Most hotel swimming pools and beach clubs were closed to encourage people to follow the official advice to ‘shelter in place’, but on a rooftop swimming pool near Dubai Marina, people could be seen enjoying a cooling dip from the 30C heat.

Business was brisk at the luxury Atlantic hotel and resort on the Palm, and nearby Swiss model Sarina Gebert, 28, was enjoying a stroll along the seafront – where Iran’s coast lies about 50 miles distant across the Persian Gulf.

‘I am going to move here in about a month,’ she told the Daily Mail. Had recent events given her any second thoughts? ‘No, I think we’re safe here,’ she said.

Meanwhile, British tourists, who had invested less in insisting that Dubai is safe than influencers, were determined to leave as soon as possible.

Chaotic scenes ensued outside Dubai International’s Terminal 3, where a handful of flights to Britain were among those being allowed to leave.

Contradictory information was being circulated about flights and many exhausted tourists told the Daily Mail that although they were being looked after by their hotels, they found the airlines frustrating to deal with.

‘We were told to stay at the hotel, then got a call to come to the airport,’ said one. ‘Then when we get here, we’re corralled outside with hundreds of other people going to loads of other places.

‘The communications haven’t been good at all.’

Podcasters Richard Osman and Marina Hyde on The Rest is Entertainment today claimed that the attack on Dubai had ‘pulled the rug’ on the safety claim.

Ms Hyde said: ‘The thing that Dubai has used all of this army of people to say about itself is, in fact, suddenly not the case. It is not a place – currently – of safety.’

She added: ‘Their schtick has had the rug pulled underneath it. Because what you’re saying is that this is a place of great luxury and great safety, and suddenly it’s not.

‘And I think it’s very difficult with that many people who are out there creating content.’

The British influencers were joined by a host of other European celebrities who knew when to sing for their suppers.

German news magazine Blick criticised the influencers’ uniformity of tone, many of them repeating the same question: ‘You live in Dubai, aren’t you afraid?’

‘They repeatedly state that they are not afraid because they can rely on the UAE leadership. Hence the response on social media: “No, because I know who protects us.”‘

Many of the posts were unsubtly illustrated with images of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai, and his son, Crown Prince Hamdan.

German fashion influencer Stefania Guarnieri shared a picture of her family on the beach and wrote: ‘Right now, missiles are being intercepted here in Dubai. And yet we feel safe.’

Another, reality star Georgina Fleur posted a picture of the Sheikh and explained: ‘Aren’t you afraid? No, because I know they’re protecting us.’

Influencer Aleks Petrovic praised the air defence systems: ‘Please don’t believe everything you see on the internet. I have complete faith in the government and its security measures.’

Many such videos have the comments disabled, though on one which was open, someone had asked pointedly: ‘Why are you all posting the same thing? How much money did you get for it?’

Russian women influencers too are staging their own social media blitz to get across the message that Dubai is safe.

The bloggers namecheck the Dubai royal family who ‘protect’ them.

A woman seen in a golf cart and walking down a street with a caption asking: ‘Aren’t you afraid to live in Dubai?’

Her reply is: ‘No, because I know who protects us.’

Then footage of the Dubai royals is shown, a format chorused repeatedly amid the turmoil from Iranian strikes.

Another clip highlighted Aisha Brant, a Russian ‘VIP-concierge’, seen emerging from a black Mercedes G-Wagon in a flowing long black dress.

The caption asks: ‘How are things in Dubai? Are you already scared or still holding up?’

The reply alluding to the royals comes: ‘Can one really be afraid under their protection?’

Tourists and locals living in Dubai were seen scrambling to leave at Dubai International Airport

The same sequence is repeated over and over again on the Russian blogosphere in a choreographed campaign to assure residents they are safe despite the Shahed drones.

Another woman asks: ‘You live in Dubai, didn’t you get scared?’

The reply in Russian reads: ‘No, because I know who’s protecting us.’