It’s the first time since 1971. On Sunday, March 1st, the United Arab Emirates were hit by several missile strikes targeting iconic areas like Palm Jumeirah and Burj Khalifa, resulting in three civilian deaths. For a country that has long presented itself as a haven of stability in a turbulent region, the shock is harsh: the notion of absolute security is shaken.
On social media, the mood shifted in just a few hours. The shopping and cocktail stories gave way to videos of panic and evacuation. Several French influencers living in Dubai publicly requested help from France, with some calling on authorities to protect their nationals.
Present on site. One of the most shared sequences particularly features reality TV influencer Maeva Ghennam pleading for France's protection (« France, protect us ! ») in a video posted on Instagram.Voir cette publication sur Instagram
These public statements quickly sparked lively reactions online. Many internet users pointed out the irony of seeing personalities settled in Dubai, often for tax reasons, seeking the protection of the French State. For their critics, this episode highlights a contradiction between the claimed tax exile and the expectation of national solidarity during a crisis. A tweet from fitness YouTuber Tibo InShape, joking about the situation, notably went viral and greatly fueled discussions on social media.
Les influenceurs de Dubaï finalement on est bien en France n’est ce pas ? 🇫🇷
— Tibo InShape (@TiboInShape) March 1, 2026
Dubai: A Spectacle City or a Mirage ?
The Gulf city-state has become, in just two decades, a symbol of global capitalism. Nearly 9,800 millionaires call it home today, drawn in by a favorable tax system where income tax is nonexistent. The average salary for an expatriate hovers around 14,000 AED per month (about 3,500 €), but some influencers, traders, or entrepreneurs earn much higher amounts.
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Yet, war harshly reminds us that wealth does not shield us from geopolitics. Even the most luxurious towers and the most protected neighborhoods remain vulnerable to regional tensions. Behind the images of luxury, the city also hides a more complex reality. A large part of its development depends on a massive foreign workforce, especially in construction, where migrant workers make up about 90% of the labor force. Critics regularly denounce difficult working conditions and a system that is heavily controlled by the State.
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Some observers describe Dubai as a spectacular backdrop created solely for appearances. And it makes sense! The city operates under constant air conditioning to endure temperatures soaring above 50 °C in the summer, and places a heavy emphasis on security and surveillance to maintain the image of a perfectly managed urban paradise.
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A « fiscal dream » faced with reality
Since the early 2000s, the GDP of the United Arab Emirates has quadrupled to reach around $501 billion by 2025, driven by finance, tourism, and real estate. This spectacular growth has fueled the image of a « Dubai dream », a symbol of rapid success and prosperity.
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But behind the perfectly crafted decor for social media, the geopolitical reality always catches up with the dream. Similarly, in April 2024, the Gulf metropolis was brutally reminded of its vulnerability when torrential rains caused significant flooding, paralyzing the airport and much of the city for several hours. It was a spectacular event that also revealed the limits of a city designed for the desert, but less so for extreme weather conditions.