Two Auckland students stranded in Dubai awoke to house-rattling explosions this morning yet remain “cautiously optimistic” they can leave Dubai on their scheduled flight home in two days.
Speaking to the Herald from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where Iran’s retaliatory strikes have killed three foreign nationals, 21-year-old University of Auckland students Harry Burden and Gordon Piper have found refuge at a relative’s Dubai apartment while they await news on their flight.
“We had some booms in the morning again, and we had a final one at 11.30am. But since then, it’s now 11pm, it’s been pretty quiet,” Burden said.
“We’ve heard some subtle interceptions, but no major noises in at least 12 hours, which is kind of comforting.”
Israel and the United States both launched “pre-emptive” strikes on Iran on February 28, eight months on from a 12-day war involving the two Middle Eastern powers over Iran’s nuclear programme and its proxy groups.
The joint strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his daughter, grandchild and several other members of the Iranian leadership.
Iran has since launched retaliatory strikes on Israel and on several of its Middle Eastern neighbours where the US and other Western powers hold military bases.
One of the retaliatory strikes killed or injured eight US service members, while nine Israelis were killed in a separate missile attack on a synagogue in Beit Shemesh, further raising concerns of an all-out regional war.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday said thousands of Kiwis are still stuck in countries affected by the conflict, but none had been reported injured.
The stranded Auckland pair were touring the Middle East and Africa with their friend and have been staying at the apartment of Ryan Piper, Gordon Piper’s 24-year-old cousin, since relocating from their hotel in Business Bay over safety concerns.
“We were advised by my cousin, he’s South African, and the South African Embassy basically said to get out of there,” Gordon Piper said.
“Me and him went back to get our bags today, and there was a family with young kids running out of the building.”
Gordon Piper said “there’s definitely some unrest” across Dubai, but it’s been quieter than usual, which Ryan Piper compared to “Covid times”.
“People were pretty shaken last night. And today ... a trip that normally takes me up to 40 minutes took us less than 20 minutes. There were no cars on the road,” Ryan Piper said.
“So I think everyone’s responding to the warnings from the Government pretty well, staying stay away from windows, making sure that they’re inside.”
The group are now sheltering at a home south of Business Bay and about 7km from the UAE’s Al Minhad Air Base, where Australia holds the command headquarters for its Middle East operations.
Yesterday, they witnessed anti-aircraft missiles being deployed to intercept those being fired by Iran.
“We were just outside talking, just about to have dinner and we heard two very, very loud, sudden booms,” Burden said.
The missile debris was reportedly the same that later struck the five-star Fairmont Hotel on the artificial Palm Jumeirah island, causing a fire to erupt.
Despite the uncertainty, the students were remaining “cautiously optimistic” they’d be able to leave, citing US President Donald Trump’s suggestion the new Iranian leadership had agreed to talk, and both had been in contact with their families.
“They’re pretty worried of course, but we’re just trying to assure them, like we feel pretty safe here to be honest,” Burden said.
However, it has been near impossible for the students to know when or where the next missiles be fired.
“This morning, we woke up to the house shaking basically. It was like 8am, biggest one we heard. That’s what woke us up,” Gordon Piper said.
“But for the most part, we’ve been fine ... the uncertainty is the main thing that’s annoying. We don’t know if our flight’s been cancelled yet.”
The students contacted the local New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi this morning, where Gordon Piper was told “to just follow local guidelines and stay indoors for the time being”.
Yet Ryan Piper said there has been little information from local authorities and media beyond staying sheltered.
“When they say trust in the local media, it’s not like there’s that much to go from. There’s definitely a vibe that people aren’t sure what to do in this situation,“ he said.
“This isn’t really something that people have considered when living in or travelling to Dubai. That’s very noticeable, I think.”
The New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) have both been contacted for comment.
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