The bubble of the Gulf expatriates that were punctured by missiles

The safe streets of Qatar are a great tie for foreign workers, who enjoy exempt income from taxes and moderate winter weather in the Gulf. But on Monday evening, an Iranian missile heading to an American military base exploded that comfortable bubble.

The sound of explosions – rocked the windows and activated emergency sirens – caused panic inside DohaMy Villageo Mall. The screams filled the cave hall and shoppers withdrew for the sake of the exits. Video footage showed abandoned black shoes in a hurry. Usually through the quiet city, parents were relieved children who were afraid of explosions.

Among the millions of mobile expatriates working to operate the economies of the oil -rich area and form about half of the Gulf population, IranThe attack on Qatar has pushed questions about safety in countries that have long been considered shops of prosperity and security in a troubled area.

The foreign workforce in the region ranges from the executives of good financing and energy to the main collar workers from South Asia, who build the country’s infrastructure and maintain their operation.

Many foreign workers are phlegm. Some of them are tested through previous attacks by the Yemeni Houthi rebels aligned in Iran and other agents in the energy infrastructure in 2019 and 2022, which struck Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, or by the regional province of a train during Donald Trump’s first period.

But the Gulf residents have swollen in recent years. For many new arrivals, this is their first experience in the Middle East war – even if it is indirect.

“The reaction depends on the period I spent in the region,” said a banker based in the United Arab Emirates. “Some new people, even in Dubai, were like” Oh my God, this is not what I participated in. ”

Since Israel attacked Iran less than two weeks ago, it prompted the Gulf kings to end hostilities and return to the talks. They were hoping to avoid the broader regional escalation and avoid falling into the fire as a result of many American military facilities in the Gulf states.

Iran’s strikes came on Monday, which targeted the largest military base of the United States in the region in retaliation for the United States’ attacks on its nuclear infrastructure.

Later in the day, Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, although this seemed fragile on Tuesday morning after Israel said that Tehran had launched new missiles, and threatened to respond.

Iranian missiles that exploded in the sky of Qatar mostly were intercepted by air defenses, causing no losses.

But if this is a display of military plays, “I prefer a 200 -pound safe tickets, which are not possible to reach ordinary people and the type of London Theater”, mocked one of the residents of Doha on Monday night.

“Moody but comfortable,” said Mood said on Tuesday morning. During the attack, he said that his reaction was “WTF”, but in the morning he felt safe, pleased with how the government maintained services such as the Internet and electricity.

On social media, some residents called the events of the night that are not important compared to the Israeli bombing that prompted Gaza.

But one of the senior British expatriates in Doha for two decades said that his peers were “somewhat shocked.”

“Fortunately, the US base outside the city,” added. “However, it is not nice to pass, and there is no doubt about the uncertainty in the future.”

Several organizations have sent email messages to inform employees that Tuesday would be an ordinary day at work, and the chief expatriate expected that most employees will appear.

In Dubai, the second largest city in the region after its leadership, some expatriates had already planned to escape from Pradora to Amman. In one of the companies, the employees asked a security call to evacuate plans, but they were rejected.

WhatsApp groups were immersed in expatriates who skeptical about the safety of staying in the region during the unexpected Trump era, and even some expatriates who call flights that Europe calls through the Gulf as it transports the “missile alley”.

But many foreigners were optimistic, with their main interest in disrupting flying and their ability to delay or exit summer holiday plans.

“There is a level of panic among the residents who suffer from summer holidays,” said Dubai -based companies.

“The basic risks are still disrupting air travel,” said Nigel Lea, an independent risk consultant. “Many companies restrict travel to the Middle East, but again due to the cost and disturbance of the delay, and the people who stumble.”

Phil Miles, Assistant Administrative Director of Institutional Security Risk Management at Counselor Kroll, said that some customers “have already postponed the unsafe travel to the area and provide employees with increased flexibility to work from home.”

Some professionals said that they felt confident that the Gulf would have a little or non -economic impact.

“There was no disruption in energy flows, in addition to the announcement of the ceasefire very quickly – these are all positive,” said Monica Malik, the chief economist at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. “We are also the most quieter travel and tourism period for the area. So we are not making any unexpected changes.”

For Dubai -based economist, “Saudi economic slowdown is more important in the Gulf than all drama in the past few days.”

But not all of them are convinced. Gaffour, a Limousine driver in Doha, has witnessed a decrease in business since the World Cup in 2022, and he fears more economic decline as a result of increasing geopolitical tensions.

“There is still any work,” he said. “All my friends are worried.”