Woman Sheltered in Dubai Hotel Basement After Air Strikes
A woman from Antrim has expressed uncertainty about when she will be able to return home from the United Arab Emirates as conflict in the Middle East persists.
Katy McKinney was visiting Dubai with her husband on a business trip when Israel and the US launched an attack against Iran on Saturday.
In response, Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones targeting US assets and allies throughout the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
McKinney confirmed she was safe but described the situation as surreal after her hotel was evacuated and guests were moved to a basement early on Sunday.
"At quarter past two in the middle of the night, there was an emergency message being blared out throughout the hotel,"
"We basically just threw clothes on, grabbed our phones and just headed to the nearest stairs."
Her hotel is located near the Fairmont The Palm hotel, which was struck by a significant explosion.
"We could actually see the smoke coming from that hotel. It definitely heightened our worry," McKinney said.
After a few hours, guests were allowed to leave the basement and return to their rooms. Since then, McKinney reported hearing only distant "banging" noises.
"What frightens myself and my husband is what I think has happened with Fairmont,"
"The aftermath of a drone or a missile being intercepted. I think that's what happened. So that is in the back of your mind."
Hoping It Might Ease Off
The Foreign Office has issued a warning advising British citizens against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
Those already in the region have been advised to seek shelter.
Flights in and out of major airports in Tel Aviv, Dubai, Doha, and other international hubs in the region have been suspended.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest by passenger traffic, was reportedly damaged in an "incident" that injured four staff members, according to authorities.
McKinney is scheduled to fly from Dubai to Dublin on Wednesday but stated that her travel plans are currently uncertain.
"We're not leaving until Wednesday so we're hoping that maybe it might start to ease off,"
"To be honest if this is still going on I don't know if I would want to get on a flight."
Travelers have been receiving updates about flights every 24 hours.
On Sunday night, Stormont's Executive Office posted on social media encouraging people to follow official advice.
The post stated that the first and deputy first ministers urged all British and Irish citizens in the Middle East to register their presence in the area as soon as possible through portals available on the UK and Irish government websites.
Conor Duggan, a teacher from Ballygalget, County Down, who resides in Abu Dhabi, was participating in a GAA tournament at a stadium near Dubai when the strikes began.
It was after his team's first game, while in the changing rooms, that players started checking their phones and became aware of the attack.
"It was quite an eerie feeling,"
"Usually in the changing rooms, there's a bit of craic and banter. You could hear a pin drop, everybody's on their phones, just looking."
After the tournament concluded and while returning to Abu Dhabi, Duggan observed smoke rising from Dubai.
He reported following advice to stay indoors and mentioned that teaching would be conducted online until Thursday.
"We're not in like a lockdown, it's not that kind of situation. There still are cars in the road, people still kind of going about normal working life,"
"It's a weird feeling like you know you do feel safe because you know these missiles thank god are being stopped in the sky and you're kind of seeing that happening.
"But it is still a strange feeling."
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump stated that combat operations in Iran would continue "until all of our objectives are achieved."
