INTERNATIONAL NEWS - What unfolded thousands of kilometres away this week has struck close to home for many South Africans, including families right here in George and across the wider Garden Route.
The attack linked to the bombing at Dubai International Airport unfolded during the late evening of Saturday 28 February, Dubai time (UTC +4), with missile and drone interceptions continuing into the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to reports, the airport was affected, with a terminal concourse sustaining minor structural damage and four staff members injured. Most of the damage appears to have come from debris falling during the interception of incoming missiles and drones, rather than direct hits on the airport itself. As a result, all flight operations were suspended for safety, leaving travellers stranded and families anxiously awaiting news from loved ones.
Several hotels and landmarks were also impacted by falling debris. For example, the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel suffered minor damage to its façade, and a building on Palm Jumeirah caught fire after debris struck the area.
Because South Africa is two hours behind Dubai, this means the first explosions and alerts would have been experienced locally at around 20:00 on Saturday, with ongoing developments extending into the early hours of Sunday.
For families in the Garden Route, this timing meant a long and anxious night of waiting for updates from loved ones abroad, as airspace closures, flight disruptions, and safety alerts unfolded in real time.
Following the bombing, George Herald readers flooded social media with messages of fear, prayer and concern, revealing just how deeply global conflict affects local lives.
Several readers shared harrowing accounts from family members currently living or working across the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Reports of missile interceptions lighting up the night sky, air raid sirens, emergency alerts and enforced lockdowns painted a picture of communities bracing under immense pressure.
One South African woman living in Bahrain described sheltering in a windowless laundry room as missile interceptions continued overhead, while phone alerts and sirens punctuated an otherwise eerie silence.
Panic buying has followed, with drinking water in short supply, as residents remain indoors and pray for calm.
Parents in the Garden Route spoke of sleepless nights as they waited for messages from children teaching in Doha or working near military bases in the UAE. Schools have been closed indefinitely in some areas, with residents told to stay indoors and avoid travel. Others described seeing drones and missiles intercepted in the sky.
Flight disruptions have added to the anxiety. Several readers reported cancelled flights just moments before boarding, while others are stranded abroad, uncertain when the airspace will reopen.
Families waiting in George and surrounding towns remain glued to their phones, hoping for reassurance.
For many South Africans, the Middle East is more than a destination; it is home to an estimated tens of thousands of citizens working in education, hospitality, healthcare and business. Estimates suggest that approximately 50 000 to 100 000 South Africans live in the UAE, with a significant portion of this population living in Dubai.
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