By Desmond Nleya
While the world was sleeping on Friday, March 6th, somewhere in the situation rooms of Washington and Tel Aviv, several officials had just finished a briefing. One man concluded with a simple, tense remark: “Go, and good luck.”
The next morning, I walked into my office as if it were any other day – without even checking my phone. The moment I opened my computer, breaking news headlines flashed across the screen: Israel and the US had attacked Iran, and Iran was retaliating against its neighbours.
The UAE, it seemed, was in the line of fire.
For a moment, I thought it was a mistake. I looked outside: traffic as usual, people on the streets, the city moving about its morning routine. Yet the news confirmed it – the UAE was indeed being targeted by missiles and drones.
My chest tightened for a split second and then something unexpected happened. I didn’t panic. Not at all. Because in the UAE, safety is not a vague promise. It is a lived reality. Years of calm, streets where families can stroll at midnight without worry, and a system that works when it matters most had built a deep trust.
Some outsiders have always said the UAE had never truly been tested , that it was safe only because danger had never arrived. Well, the moment of truth had come, and the UAE was ready.
Over the following days, missiles flew overhead. Alerts pinged our phones. News channels flashed warnings. And yet, life went on , work continued, metros were packed, malls and restaurants bustled. Ironically, I felt safer than ever.
Back home, my friends and family reached out, distressed. On TV and the internet, Dubai appeared to be under attack, reduced to rubble. But my Dubai , my home , was untouched, unharmed.
Why? Because the skies were defended. The UAE intercepted almost every missile and drone, with debris causing minimal damage and tragically, fewer than six lives lost. May their souls rest in peace.
Why did I feel so secure? Because the UAE government had everything under control. Every protocol was executed, every safety net in place, every person ready to act. Clear, calm guidance from the Ministry kept us informed without panic. Even amidst danger, I felt protected. Even amidst chaos, life went on.
Today, the country doesn’t feel tense. There is no fear. Because the UAE has always been prepared. Safety, I realized, isn’t the absence of danger but it is the presence of leadership that can face it, manage it, and protect its people through it.
This war was a test. And the UAE passed , not just as a nation, but as a home for everyone living here. It showed the world that even under fire, life can continue calmly and confidently. That even when missiles fly, trust in leadership can make you feel invincible.
As I sit now, reflecting on that morning, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride. Not in the absence of danger, but in the certainty that the UAE’s leaders, with vision and courage, have created a country where people can live fearlessly, even in war. And that, to me, is priceless.
