By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 3: A Sarawakian in Dubai is living through tense moments as the city’s air defense system intercepts missiles and drone attacks recently, leaving her hoping that flight operations return to normal or that the Malaysian Embassy can assist her in returning home safely.
Nur Afiqaduri Razak, who recently married and moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with her husband, recounted the harrowing experience while breaking fast at a restaurant.
“Initially, diners did not notice the explosions, but panic soon spread after a series of loud blasts echoed across the city.
“Some immediately checked their phones for updates, while others hurried home to seek safety. About 10 minutes after the first blasts, we learned that the Burj Al Arab Hotel had been hit by a drone strike. We are only 20 minutes away from the hotel,” she told TVS.
Having never faced such a situation before, Nur Afiqaduri shared that the night was long and stressful, with explosions and warning sirens making it nearly impossible to sleep.
“My heart was racing, and it felt like forever waiting for daylight. I’ve never experienced anything like this,” she said.
The tense situation also caused some residents to rush out and stock up on essential supplies to ensure they had enough provisions. Despite the fear, Nur Afiqaduri expressed gratitude that Dubai’s situation has since stabilised, with no injuries reported in her area.
She added that the UAE government provides hourly updates and issues safety directives to protect residents.
“Alhamdulillah, Dubai’s situation is better than Abu Dhabi and Doha because there are no U.S. military bases here. We were advised to stay indoors in case of missile interceptions,” she explained.
Nur Afiqaduri concluded by expressing hope that normal flight operations will resume soon or that the Malaysian Embassy can assist her in returning home safely. — DayakDaily
