A PERSONAL trainer who moved with his family to Dubai six months ago has said that the weekend was “very scary” as Iranian missiles and drones targeted the emirate – but its strong defences have left him reassured and feeling safe.
Ryan Hodgson and his wife Elly are well-known members of the fitness community in Jersey, having founded Team HH and running the gym and pool at the Radisson hotel. Last year, the couple moved to the Middle East with their two children, where they run an online coaching business with many Jersey clients.
Speaking to the JEP, Mr Hodgson said: “It has settled down a bit since the attacks on Saturday. There was a lot a tension, and last night we could hear explosions and see the UAE defences go up.
“Fortunately, most drones and missiles were shot down over the sea but a few got through. There have been several fatalities, and my heart goes out to their families.”
Mr Hodgson said that, by Sunday, things appeared to have quietened down.
He said: “We’ve been told that the schools are online until at least Wednesday. The communications from our school have been very good, including providing guidance to help us explain to our kids what is happening. You can’t obviously ignore what is going on but equally you need to reassure them and make sure they feel safe.
“It can obviously be scary for the kids, and our eldest has now entered the world of TikTok so it is about sharing with her that not everything you see there is real.”
Reflecting on the attacks, he said: “We had an alert at 2am advising us to stay in the house. We’re residents so we took that advice, but I can understand visitors with limited time here might want to get out and about. Everything is open as normal.
“There has been some bulk buying, which is obviously a very Jersey thing to do when the boat is cancelled but there aren’t any shortages here so it’s just human nature. We had a text to say our food delivery would be with us in 25 minutes instead of 15, which is about as serious as it gets.
“There really wasn’t any fear or anticipation leading up to the weekend. We went down to JBR [Jumeirah Beach] with the kids on Friday and it was absolutely bouncing. There is a large expat community here, and everyone looks out for each other.”
He continued: “Risk exists wherever you are and we feel confident that we made the right decision to move here. Everyone back home has been checking in with us, which is really welcome and appreciated. It is serious here, but the UAE is handling it well.”
Other Islanders based in or travelling through the Middle East have been sharing their experiences on social media, including those caught up in the travel disruption. The majority of flights to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait have been cancelled, with many airports and areas of airspace closed.
Thousands of people are stuck in the region, waiting to leave.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said that anyone who is considering travelling to the region, or has close connections there, is strongly encouraged to consult the latest updates on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.
He said: “The Government of Jersey continues to monitor events closely through established channels. We remain in regular contact with UK authorities and will provide further updates or support for Islanders if it becomes necessary.”
