Dubai, Playground For The World’s Super-Rich, Sees Them Flee As Iran War Escalates

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 22:48 IST

Iranian missile attacks over the Gulf have rattled Dubai’s reputation as a safe haven, prompting wealthy residents to charter private jets and drive across borders to flee.

Dubai’s super-rich have begun fleeing the glitzy Gulf hub by any means necessary, paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to escape a regional war they fear may drag on.

The desert city in the United Arab Emirates has long welcomed the global wealthy, drawn by low taxes, safety, luxury and a business-friendly government.

But that reputation is now under strain as Iranian missiles and drones fly across the Gulf and airspace restrictions disrupt flights in the UAE.

Some residents are paying huge sums to secure a way out.

“When we saw the fire, we said OK, it’s time to go," Evrim, a Turkish mother of two living in Dubai, told AFP.

She was referring to a blaze that broke out after missile debris struck a luxury hotel near her home on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s archipelago of man-made islands that has become a symbol of the city’s extravagant wealth.

Evrim, her husband and their two children are paying $200,000 to charter a flight from neighbouring Oman to Geneva, where they plan to wait out the conflict. To reach Oman’s capital Muscat, the family drove six hours through the desert.

“We were feeling really anxious… mainly because of the kids — when they heard that bang sound they were scared," she said, describing missile interceptions in the skies above the city.

She fears leaving the region could become even harder if the conflict drags on, especially if Saudi Arabia — whose airspace covers large parts of the region — becomes involved in the war.

Dubai has built its reputation as a playground for the rich and famous, home to the world’s tallest building, luxury hotels, giant shopping malls and even an indoor ski slope.

But its image as a safe haven in a volatile region is now under pressure.

Since Saturday, the UAE has been targeted by more than 800 drones and 200 missiles as part of Iran’s retaliatory campaign across the Gulf. Airports and oil facilities are among the sites that have been hit, with three people reported killed.

Why Are Wealthy Residents Leaving Dubai?

Several foreign governments including Britain and Germany are sending evacuation flights to neighbouring Oman, where some commercial services are still operating.

But many wealthy residents are arranging their own exit.

“Demand is definitely increasing," Glenn Phillips, PR and advertising manager for private jet broker Air Charter Service, told AFP.

“We have arranged a number of evacuation flights already, and have more scheduled today and tomorrow, mainly out of Muscat in Oman for people looking to get out of Dubai."

Prices for charter flights are rising sharply, Phillips said, partly because many aircraft are grounded at airports affected by airspace closures. Security concerns have also made some operators reluctant to fly.

Muscat has emerged as the most common exit route, but congestion at the UAE–Oman border has forced some travellers to wait three to four hours to cross.

If the conflict continues, aircraft availability could become even tighter, Phillips warned.

Are Some Leaving By Road Instead?

Not everyone is flying out.

Mike D’Souza, operations coordinator at Indus Chauffeur in Dubai, said demand for private cars leaving the UAE has surged among wealthy Western residents.

Many are heading toward Saudi Arabia, where airports are still functioning.

But obtaining visas for the kingdom has proved difficult for some evacuees, complicating their escape plans.

What About Residents With More Modest Means?

For those without access to private jets or chauffeured cars, leaving has been far more difficult.

A British expatriate living in Dubai told AFP he struggled to secure commercial flights out of Muscat for himself, his pregnant wife and their three-year-old son.

“Prices are extremely high and seats are disappearing quickly while you are trying to book," he said.

The family eventually managed to secure seats on a flight to Hyderabad in India, from where they plan to travel onward to Thailand.

“While my son doesn’t understand what is happening, it has clearly unsettled him, and my wife has also been anxious," he said.

“That said, we absolutely love Dubai and consider it our home. We fully intend to return once our baby is born and things settle down."

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