Dubai influencers' lives of luxury interrupted by Iran strikes: The image of safety has been shattered'

"Dubai a gilded playground for the ultra-rich and oligarch class, billed as one of the safest places on Earth had been attacked by Iranian missiles. Phones lit up with emergency messages urging residents to take shelter. But Dubai is resilient, at least when it comes to partying. Everyone just went back to their hookah and food a minute later."

"He felt a responsibility to combat misinformation; when he saw an AI-generated video of the Burj Khalifa burning, he told his followers it was fake. But he couldn't resist showing off a little, too. In one clip, Babayan said he felt that Dubai remained safer than New York, Los Angeles and London, even amid the war."

"I feel like that's more important, not having to look over my shoulder every two seconds, compared to the chances of a drone hitting me. Where else could he walk around at night wearing his $60,000 watch undisturbed?"

Mike Babayan, a 23-year-old finance worker and TikTok influencer with nearly 150,000 followers, was in a hookah lounge when Iranian missiles struck Dubai on Saturday night. Despite emergency shelter warnings, residents quickly resumed their activities, reflecting the city's reputation for resilience. Babayan relocated from the Burj Khalifa to a residence further from the city center, where he heard explosions every 20-30 minutes. He documented the strikes on social media, combating misinformation by debunking AI-generated videos while also highlighting Dubai's safety advantages. He argued that Dubai remained safer than New York, Los Angeles, and London, emphasizing the ability to walk freely with expensive possessions without constant vigilance.

Read at www.theguardian.com