A social media influencer living in Dubai has described the shock of receiving multiple emergency alerts after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates. Melody Ann Thomas, a 32-year-old American originally from Virginia, has been documenting her life in the UAE on TikTok. She told Metro that the first alert on May 4 caught her completely off guard.
First Alert Since Ceasefire
Thomas recalled: 'On May 4, we received an alert again for the first time since the ceasefire, and that completely caught me off guard. I was sitting in my office on a high floor surrounded by glass windows, and I just froze. I was hoping it would be a one-off.' However, that hope was short-lived. Last night, she received five more alerts.
'There's definitely an underlying tension that didn't exist before. It has shifted people's perspective,' she added. The UAE Ministry of Defence accused Iran of launching an attack featuring a dozen ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones. The country is now responding to further missile threats.
Online Classes and Safety Measures
In a TikTok video posted today, Thomas – who works for an investment company – confirmed that schools and universities would hold classes online until at least the end of this week. 'Regardless of how you feel about it, these are the facts. Missiles, drones, all of this, is not a normal situation, and it's always better safe than sorry,' she said.
Thomas started posting about her life in the UAE during earlier strikes this year after being bombarded with messages from concerned friends and family back home. 'It felt like a good way to share what was actually happening on the ground and give a more realistic perspective,' she explained.
Realizing the Danger
The situation became more tangible when debris from an intercepted drone hit a residential building in Dubai Marina. 'That was the point where my family was no longer comfortable with me staying. Thankfully, some flights had started to become available, and I booked a one-way ticket to Thailand. I ended up staying for about five weeks until things calmed down. When the ceasefire was announced, it felt like a collective sense of relief and a return to normalcy,' Thomas said.
Monday's attacks are the first on the UAE since Iran's ceasefire deal with the US was reached on April 8. Despite the recent events, Thomas insists she still feels safe and does not associate the UAE with the disruption it has experienced over the last few months.
Choosing Dubai
Thomas revealed that she originally wanted to move to London but ended up in Dubai after failing to secure a work visa for the UK. 'Looking back, it all worked out the way it was meant to. I love Dubai for its safety and sunshine 360 days a year. For me, feeling safe comes down to clear communication and transparency. When people are informed and understand what's happening, it helps reduce uncertainty and panic. Ultimately, Dubai has become my home by choice, and I genuinely love living here. Day-to-day, it's still one of the safest places I've ever lived. But that doesn't erase the fact that earlier this year, missiles were being intercepted overhead daily,' she concluded.
