It's been seven days since that day when I thought it was just our neighbor on the upper floor moving out. I heard a bang overhead and felt that vibration on my chest. I thought they were just not being careful and banging their furniture here and there. It was the end of the month, February 28th, 2026, and surely someone must be moving out/in.
I continued binge-watching Bridgerton.
Then came another bang. This time, I got up and checked outside the window. Hmmm, nothing out of the ordinary. Okay, moving on...
Suddenly, I got notifications from our group chat. My friends were already sending messages containing notices from the Philippine Embassy. "Stay vigilant. Take care, everyone," the messages said.
Then I connected the dots. Danggg. Oh yes, there was news of US, Israel attacking Iran. But never did I imagine it would escalate quickly and have us here in the UAE under missile attacks from Iran.
These days, our normal days involve constantly looking at the sky. I just heard a banging sound. Where did the missile interception happen? Is it close?
The airspace is closed, so the humming sounds could be from drones or fighter jets.
And yet, it is business as usual. People carry on with their normal routine. Schools, however, have shifted to remote learning. Some offices were advised to WFH. But all in all, life goes on as usual.
We can still go to the doctors. The markets and all establishments are open.
Citizens and residents remain calm because we are given assurance by the government that they are well-equipped to protect the land from attacks.
Every so often, we receive alerts on our phones. Of course, even if this happens, it is but natural to feel scared and worried.
I remember early morning on Tuesday, barely after 2:00 AM, I think that was the worst barrage of missiles we heard, and it really made me anxious. About an hour later, the occasional bangs in the sky stopped. The missiles were intercepted, and we are safe, thanks to God.
It is true. In war, nobody wins. Hopefully, this conflict will end soon without any more lives lost to the shadows of the sky.
In the end, we aren't just residents or citizens; we are witnesses to a history we never asked to be part of. As the sun sets over Abu Dhabi today, I’m not looking for the perfect photo or a clear view of the skyline—I’m just looking for the quiet.
Whatever happens in the coming days, we stay vigilant, we stay hopeful, and most importantly, we stay together. For now, the sky is silent. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Note from the Author: This post is a personal reflection of my experience living in the UAE during the events starting February 28, 2026. While the headlines focus on the 7-day conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, these are the small, quiet moments in between. Stay safe, everyone.
All photos are owned by the author unless stated otherwise.
