Trump Urges Nations to Safeguard Vital Oil Route in Strait of Hormuz

By Anne Ashworth and Calum Muirhead

In the upscale neighborhoods of London, rental prices are witnessing a significant upswing as expatriates from Dubai seek refuge from the turmoil in the Middle East. This surge in demand is driven by affluent Britons eager to secure luxurious properties in the capital.

Real estate agents report a flood of inquiries from these wealthy individuals, many of whom are prepared to spend upwards of £3,000 per week to rent high-end residences. The trend follows the unsettling developments in the Gulf region, where expatriates, initially drawn to places like Dubai for their favorable tax conditions and pleasant climate, have found their lives abruptly disrupted by recent missile attacks from Iran.

Among those affected is Luisa Zissman, a 38-year-old former star of “The Apprentice” turned social media influencer. She recently relocated her family back to the UK, describing her current situation as entering a “refugee era” after being uprooted from her Dubai home.

Among them is Luisa Zissman, 38, the former Apprentice star turned influencer, who returned with her family from Dubai last week saying she was in her ‘refugee era, displaced from my home’.

Tom Bill, head of residential research at estate agent Knight Frank, said: ‘London’s long-standing reputation for stability comes into sharper focus during moments of geopolitical volatility.’

Other property agents said they had been swamped by requests from families returning to the UK.

‘Our offices are absolutely inundated with enquiries for short lets of six months or a year,’ said Becky Fatemi, executive partner at Sotheby’s International.

‘These clients are willing to pay upwards of £3,000 a week.

‘Many people traditionally quit the Middle East for Europe for a period of months when the schools break up in June, but they are coming now because they want to be safe.’