On the evening of 28/2, 23-year-old Mike Babayan was at a bar when a loud explosion occurred. His phone displayed an urgent alert about Iran launching missiles and drones targeting Gulf nations. The crowd around him stirred for about a minute before resuming their party. "Everyone kept drinking coffee and moving around as if nothing had happened," Babayan said.

At another beach club, Will Bailey, an influencer with half a million social media followers, witnessed a missile strike nearby, yet the lively music played on without interruption. Despite the danger, Bailey and many others filmed Fairmont The Palm hotel engulfed in smoke and flames in the distance. On luxury yachts, many were also busy recording the attack as if it were a fireworks display.

Dubai residents relax on Kite Beach after an Iranian attack, 1/3. *Photo: Guardian*

This lifestyle drew fierce criticism. Many argued that the wealthy were awkwardly attempting to maintain a facade of normalcy while human lives were at risk. For example, one businesswoman faced strong backlash for complaining that the conflict disrupted her schedule of meetings and luxury events.

On the night of 28/2, despite the shaken sense of security in the land dubbed a "golden playground," individuals like Babayan still tried to project composure. When he had to evacuate his apartment in the Burj Khalifa due to continuous explosions, he filmed a video update, asserting: "Dubai is still safer than New York or London."

Explaining this reaction, doctor Zoe Hurley, a social media researcher in Dubai, stated that the UAE government has long used influencers to promote an image of a "safe oasis." To operate, they must pay 4,000 USD for a license and pledge not to post content violating the nation's political values. "They are paid to say everything is fine," Hurley remarked.

Echoing this sentiment, associate professor Peter Loge from George Washington University (US) suggested this is a new form of "disaster tourism." According to him, videos flaunting wealth amidst destruction are actually an attempt to find meaning in chaos.

"The rich do not want to believe they are as vulnerable as anyone else. They use luxury to mask their fear," he said.

Thanh Thanh (According to Guardian)