A former High Wycombe resident has described a strong “sense of community and togetherness” in the United Arab Emirates following the start of the Iran war.

There have been missile and drone attacks in multiple Gulf states after Iran vowed to carry out its “most intense operation” ever in retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei was killed when Israel and the US began air strikes on the country on Saturday, February 26.

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The attacks have also led to the deaths of Iran’s Minister of Defence Aziz Nasirzadeh, Armed Forces Chief Abdolrahim Mousavi, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Mohammad Pakpour, and politician Ali Shamkhani.

The United Arab Emirates was hit hard by Iranian missiles and drones, particularly in Dubai, the Emirates’ commercial hub.

The UAE has sought in recent years to de‑escalate tensions with Iran despite its longstanding suspicions of its northern neighbour.

Following the latest developments, former Buckinghamshire resident Craig Philander, who has lived in the Gulf state permanently since 2024, told the Free Press that while the incident was “scary”, the situation “isn’t as scary as it is being made out to be”.

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He explained: “All I saw was when the missiles were being intercepted, there was a loud bang.

“Debris fell, and there has been some damage, but it was not an actual attack.

“I live near the Palm, and at the time, everyone was a bit scared, but everything is back open now.

“Today, I went for a quick run after work on the beach.

"People are out with their kids, the restaurants are open, so while there was a bit of a scary time, I don’t think we have felt unsafe over here.

"We are being well looked after by the government.

“People have been out shopping, and it isn’t as scary as it is being made out to be.

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“It is safe over here, but we don’t know what is going to happen next.”

Mr Philander, who works for a tech company, also said he feels “very safe” in the country despite the recent events.

He added: “I leave my keys in the car, and I sometimes don’t lock my house when I leave.

“Everyone has been really supportive in terms of checking up on each other.

“People have been inviting each other over; there has been a sense of community and togetherness.”

Buckingham University professor Julian Richards told the Free Press that the situation in the Middle East will probably “get worse before it gets better” and has advised people not to travel for “a few weeks”.

Mr Richards spent 20 years working in intelligence and security for the British government before founding the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham.

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He said: “Getting there and getting back is very difficult; we just don’t know how it will unfold.

“My view is that it will get worse before it gets better, but don’t panic, that is the worst thing you can do.

“It can move quite quickly.”