UAE Residents Embrace Daily Life With Calm Confidence Amid Regional War

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)

From book fairs and mall visits to night prayers and gym sessions, people across the UAE are carrying on their daily lives with resilience and caution

By: Nasreen Abdulla

[Editor’s Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid ** US-Israel-Iran war** for the latest regional developments.]

From visiting the mall and shopping for books to going to the gym and attending nightly prayers, UAE residents are continuing to go about their daily lives during heightened regional tensions, albeit with caution. All of them took necessary precautions when alerts were sent out, but otherwise, enjoyed their favorite activities with gusto.

Recommended For You

At the Big Bad Wolf book sale, there has been a steady stream of visitors who sought to take advantage of the heavily discounted books. Ajman resident Rekha Menon visited the sale with her husband and 17-year-old son a day before the US-Israel-Iran war began and spent over Dh600 on books.

“I really liked the volume of books, variety, and of course the good deals,” she said.“I picked up a lot of activity books and craft books for my son’s young cousins. I also added to my own library - bought a lot of biographies and autobiographies. There was a good collection of Hemingway’s and classics by Jack Kerouac. We also bought a lot of fiction and non-fiction titles for my son.”

** Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp channels.**

She was so impressed with the sale that she intends to return to shop for more before it ends on March 15. She said she didn’t worry about the current uncertain conditions.“I am quite confident about how the local authorities are keeping us safe,” she said.“So as a family, we have been going about doing our normal activities.”

Soaring gym attendance

This spirit of carrying on is also evident in the region’s fitness scene. Some fitness centers have registered a steep increase in footfall amidst the rising regional conflicts. Several GymNation clubs across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have seen 100 per cent footfall since February 28.

“It’s very much business as usual across our clubs, and it’s encouraging to see our gyms full,” said Loren Holland, CEO at GymNation.“That alone speaks volumes about the public’s confidence and their ‘keep calm, carry on - and lift weights’ attitude. The overall sentiment among our members is one of calm and reassurance.”

The company, which has seen fully booked group classes and a steady evening rush, has launched complimentary three-day passes for non-members in response to the current situation.

Making memories

For Indian expat Riham Anshah, this Ramadan has been about making memories even amidst uncertainty. The 11-year-old has been going for Tharaweeh and Tahajjud prayers everyday with her parents and elder sister. She said that the regional unrest had changed her lifestyle, but she wasn’t scared.“We don’t go out as much as we used to but I know Dubai is a safe city, so I don’t feel very worried,” she said.“Twice, when I was at Tharaweeh, the alert came. At the time, people who were praying outside the mosque were brought into the building and there was a slight murmur around the prayer hall, but everyone just continued praying. We are all more careful but we are living life as usual.”

On Thursday night, she enjoyed free burgers and ice cream at the Sheikha Hind Al Maktoum Mosque as part of an initiative by local company Salt.“It was the most best Ramadan experience I ever had,” she said.“Maybe someday I will tell my children about the time when we were in the middle of a war, but we made memories by eating free burgers at midnight.”

Gift shopping and theme parks

All the theme parks in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island - including Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. WorldTM and SeaWorld® - remain open for parents and children to enjoy. For several parents, this has been a welcome relief during the unexpected early spring break.

Tanzanian expat Fathima said that she has also been out and about at the mall shopping for Eid gifts. The Abu Dhabi resident says she has been very careful about planning her trips this year.“Usually, I go to the mall a couple of times, buying a few gifts each time,” she said.“However, this time, I was very careful with planning my outdoor trips. Once when I was about to leave, we got an alert, so I didn’t go out. The next day, I made a detailed list of what I wanted to buy. Then, I made one trip to the mall for about three hours, and I bought everything I needed.”

She said that despite everything that was going on, she was happy to be in Abu Dhabi and did not want to leave.“The government cares us about us deeply and is very proactive in keeping us safe,” she said.“Even with the interceptions and loud bangs, I feel safer here than anywhere else I have lived in.”

ALSO READ

UAE residents push back against panic on social media, say country remains safe ‘We chose this country, we stand with it’: UAE expats voice support across social media Ramadan prayers, weekend plans: Life in UAE continues despite Iranian strikes

MENAFN13032026000049011007ID1110858857