As false information circulates, residents emphasize a clear message: being cautious is sensible, fear is natural, but panic driven by exaggeration benefits no one.
As dramatic claims and alarming videos spread across social media, many UAE residents report that their experiences over the past few days have been far calmer than online portrayals suggest. They note that while fear is natural, confidence in the country’s leadership and institutions guides their response.
“We are not saying nothing is happening and that everything is fine and dandy,” said Mohammed Daqqaq, a communications director in Abu Dhabi. “But the way it’s being portrayed elsewhere — as if there is chaos or a war — is simply not what we are experiencing on the ground.”
Daqqaq noted that sensationalized coverage and viral posts had sparked unnecessary panic among relatives and friends overseas, even though daily life within the UAE was largely proceeding as normal.
“I checked the news and then went on with my life,” he said. “I went to the mosque, did some shopping. People weren’t panic-buying—it was just a normal weekly routine. I drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and traffic was moving as usual.”
Daqqaq added that official updates and visible security measures helped foster a sense of control rather than fear. “We trust the country, the leadership, and the government. Seeing timely updates and actions made people feel more confident, not scared.”
‘Shops were open, the mall was full’
For Shahed Mardini, founder of Biscuits & More and mother of two young boys, the most unsettling part of the situation wasn’t what she witnessed locally, but the frantic messages coming from abroad.
“My mother called me from Damascus, saying she saw explosions in Abu Dhabi on Instagram,” Mardini said. “I reassured her, ‘There is nothing. We are at the mall playing with the kids.’”
She recalled being at Reem Mall with her children when the online rumors began circulating. “The mall was full. People were relaxed. We even went out for breakfast afterward, and it was crowded.”
She acknowledged the initial fear, especially among children startled by notification alarms, but said the situation quickly settled. “We were scared at first, of course. But schools shifted to online learning and some people worked from home—that was the only real change.”
Experience shapes perspective
For residents who have lived through war elsewhere, the online comparisons have felt particularly misplaced.
Muna Tamim, a first aid trainer who experienced the 2006 war in Lebanon, highlighted the stark contrast. “In Lebanon, shells were hitting buildings. Entire structures were collapsing in front of us,” she said. “Here, nothing like that is happening. You hear a sound, and then it’s gone.”
Tamim added that while feeling unsettled was natural—especially in a country where safety is usually high—the situation never felt out of control.
“We worried at first, because this is so unfamiliar here,” she said. “But you still feel that everything is under control. There’s a huge difference between a real war and what people are describing online.”
She added that some of the most extreme narratives on social media, including talk of a “third world war,” bore little resemblance to daily life in Abu Dhabi. “People are exaggerating. The media outside is making a storm out of nothing.”
Fear spreads faster than facts
Several residents noted that while malls, shops, and roads remained open, a sense of caution was noticeable—especially around social gatherings and outdoor events.
Daqqaq explained that restaurants had seen dozens of iftar cancellations, not because venues were closed, but because families felt uneasy.
“It’s not a government decision—it’s personal fear,” he said. “If parents are scared, they won’t go out. So organizers of company iftars and suhoors are canceling events because they won’t succeed anyway.”
He emphasized, however, that this did not equate to public panic. “I went to the mall at night. Shops were open. Parking was full, as usual.”
Tarek Sukkar, an Abu Dhabi resident originally from Syria, noted that social media played a major role in amplifying anxiety. “I don’t really watch the news,” he said. “Social media exaggerates everything. You read things that make it sound like the world is ending, but when you go outside, everything is normal.”
One widely shared post came from Samira Boudiab, who wrote about being stranded abroad due to flight cancellations while her children remained in Dubai.
“The difference is trust,” she wrote. “Trust that the safety and security of people are always the priority in the UAE.”
Boudiab said she felt at ease knowing her children were safe at home, supported by the community and essential services—a sentiment echoed by many residents interviewed.
For Daqqaq, that trust is grounded in experience. “It’s not delusional,” he said. “It’s based on how this country has handled crises in the past—and how it is handling this one now [Iranian attack].”
As misinformation continues to circulate, residents emphasize a simple message: caution is reasonable, fear is natural, but panic fueled by exaggeration benefits no one.
“Life didn’t stop,” said Mardini. “We adapted, stayed aware—and kept living.”
