As missiles and drones streak across the skies of the Gulf following the ongoing America-Israel/Iran War, thousands of Nigerians living in the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring countries are navigating a tense reality.

Fear and uncertainty best describes their situation.

For many expatriates, including professionals, entrepreneurs and students scattered across cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait City, the past several days have brought a mix of fear, resilience and reliance on the highly coordinated emergency systems of their host countries.

Although most of the projectiles have been intercepted by air defence systems, some Nigerians in the Middle East said the psychological Impact of the attacks has been profound, forcing people to constantly monitor emergency alerts and be prepared to seek shelter at short notice.

They took to their various social media handles to express their worries.

Among those experiencing the tense atmosphere is Dubai-based Nigerian professional Emeka Opara, who described the situation as one that has kept many residents on edge.

According to him, the experience has felt like “almost 96 hours of hell,” as missiles and drones streak across the skies and emergency alerts repeatedly flash across mobile phones.

“Missiles and drones have been literally raining on the UAE,” Opara said, noting that while many are intercepted, the fear they generate cannot easily be neutralised.

“Imagine if these missiles and drones weren’t intercepted. Imagine if they were raining down somewhere in Nigeria or Africa, God forbid,” he said.

Opara explained that while authorities in the UAE have demonstrated remarkable preparedness, residents remain understandably anxious.

“You cannot intercept fear. People are scared,” Opara said.

He added that the anxiety is worsened by the flood of information circulating on social media, including unverified reports and AI-generated content that sometimes exaggerate the scale of the attacks.

According to him, “the barrage of true and fake news raining down on people is almost as intense as the missiles and drones themselves.”

Despite the tension, Opara said the response of the UAE government has helped reassure residents and prevent panic.

“Still, you must give it to the government,” he said. “They’ve done exceptionally well in protecting their citizens, residents and visitors.”

He noted that authorities have maintained constant communication with the public, issuing emergency alerts and guidance through official channels.

“The communication and engagement have been nothing short of world class,” Opara said.

He also pointed to visible gestures by leaders aimed at calming public nerves.

“To reassure the public, some leaders, including the Ruler of Dubai, have made appearances in malls and restaurants,” he said.

According to him, the government has also taken steps to support visitors whose travel plans may have been disrupted by the security situation.

“They even directed hotels to extend the stay of visitors until they are able to exit and send the invoices to the Ministry of Tourism,” Opara said.

For residents, however, daily life now involves a new routine of caution.

Opara said many buildings have effectively converted basement parking areas into emergency shelters.

“Thank God for the basements,” he said. “Most of them normally serve as car parks, but they have now become safe houses where people dash down to when emergency alerts of potential missile or drone attacks come into our phones, “ Opara added.

He acknowledged that some locations have been affected by missile debris or interception fallout, reinforcing the seriousness of the situation.

“A few places we know have been hit by missiles or drones or debris from interceptions. So the fear and tension are real,” he declared.

Meanwhile, in Abu Dhabi, Nigerian resident, Chinelo Okoye said the attacks have created a pervasive atmosphere of unease, particularly for families with young children.

“It’s difficult to explain the fear to my kids every time an alert goes off. We try to stay calm, but the anxiety is real. The government’s messages and precautions help, but you still feel vulnerable sometimes,” she wrote.

In Doha, Qatar, Nigerian graduate student, Tunde Balogun, described how he and his friends have adapted to the situation.

“We’ve started keeping backpacks with essentials ready at all times, and we plan our days around the emergency alerts. It’s a strange mix of fear and faith, we trust the authorities, but we also pray every day for safety and a quick resolution,” Balogun said.

Still, many Nigerians across the Gulf noted faith and community solidarity have helped them cope.

Sunday Vanguard learnt that prayer groups on WhatsApp and church networks in the diaspora have become spaces where people share information, encouragement, and reassurance.

For older Nigerians who remember the Nigerian Civil War, the unfolding events evoke sobering memories of the consequences of conflict.

“War is not a good thing at all,” Opara said, recalling the devastating humanitarian crisis that followed the Nigerian conflict of the late 1960s.

Quoting wartime British leader Winston Churchill, he added: “To jaw-jaw is still better than to war-war.”

As tensions continue across the Gulf, many Nigerians remain vigilant, hopeful, and prayerful that diplomacy will prevail.

“For now, we follow instructions, remain vigilant, and trust that the situation will stabilize,” Opara said.

Sunday Igwebuike, who works in construction site in Oman, said his place of work has asked all workers to stay at home until peace returns.

“I don’t go to work anymore. We are scared because the missiles from Iran, Israel and America end up killing innocent people. Our supervisors asked us to stay at home until peace returns. There is tension everywhere. We are even confused because when you are at home , you might be hit by missiles. Outside is not safe either. It is scary because Iran is attacking many Gulf countries, “ he lamented.

For other Nigerians in the Gulf, daily life has become a delicate balance between caution, resilience, and faith. (Sunday Vanguard, excluding headline)

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