The incident in question occurred on February 28, the day when the UAE was celebrating a holiday. Gulzat lives in a prestigious area near the famous Burj Al Arab hotel. She reported that at 1:00 PM, a loud explosion occurred, which initially reminded her of the sounds of fireworks typical for celebrations in Dubai. However, it soon became known that a bomb had been shot down by the air defense system near her villa.
Just 10 minutes after the explosion, social media was flooded with panic messages claiming that Iran had begun attacks on targets in the Middle East, aiming at US military bases and strategic points in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Gulzat noted that some bloggers started spreading false rumors to attract attention, posting old videos of disasters and passing them off as new events. She urged people to trust only official sources and reported that strict laws against the spread of fake news are in effect in the UAE.
According to her, after the first explosion, the attacks continued for 3-4 hours, which heightened concerns among local residents. Nevertheless, the residents of the Emirates relied on their country's protective measures. Soon, the authorities ensured the safety of the population, and the panic subsided. Places with large gatherings of people and some services were closed for several days, but as of today, most workers have returned to their jobs, and the situation has stabilized. Gulzat emphasized that Kyrgyz people in Dubai actively support each other and try not to succumb to panic.
She expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan for their prompt actions and clear instructions, adding that she reassured her relatives back home, assuring them that they were not in danger. "There is no need for our relatives in Kyrgyzstan to worry. The situation is under control, and it is calm in Dubai again," she said.
In addition, the President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, informed that work is ongoing to evacuate citizens remaining in Middle Eastern countries. The Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Seitak Jumakadyrov, mentioned at a press conference that as of March 2, about 22,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan are in the Gulf countries, with approximately 10,000 in the UAE and 6,000 in Saudi Arabia.
He noted that the ministry is taking all necessary measures to protect the rights of Kyrgyz citizens in the Middle East, including Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, as well as Israel and Iran. According to the latest data, there are no casualties or individuals left without assistance among Kyrgyz citizens, and all citizens are receiving support from the consulates. There have been particularly many inquiries from Dubai, where a significant number of tourists are located.
On the same day, February 28, a military operation by the US and Israel against Iran began. Negotiations that had previously taken place between Washington and Tehran regarding the Iranian nuclear program were unsuccessful. The third round of negotiations concluded on February 26 in Geneva.
