Aya Bertraui

Good morning, Michelle.

Well, to begin with, this is supposed to be the peak tourism season here, but the hotels are pretty empty.

You know, the government did approve a financial package to help businesses here that are suffering just yesterday.

And the central bank is also allowing local banks here to draw from cash reserves to help with liquidity.

as people move their money out or defer on payments or maybe even require more loans.

And then there's what we call the new normal here.

You know, this is a safe haven.

People are not accustomed to coming under attack.

And the city does not have shelters because Dubai was never attacked by missiles before this war.

But this is what it sounded like this morning, just a few hours ago from my balcony.

So that was the sound of missiles overhead being intercepted.

There's also fighter jets overhead chasing and shooting down Iranian-made Shahed drones, which are relatively cheap to make and have caused extensive damage.

Interceptors are expensive and in limited supply, and they're being saved to shoot down those missiles you just heard.

And then there's the smaller things I've noticed, Michelle, like restaurants still offering premium Wagyu beef and other luxury items on their menus.

But then I had to go to a few different grocery stores yesterday to find carrots.

Dubai imports most of its food, and the main port here has been inaccessible because the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed now for the past month.

Well, that sounds really scary, though.

Pakistan says it's ready to host the U.S.

and Iran for a meeting in the coming days, but there is no sign that a meeting is actually happening.

If anything, a couple thousand Marines are now in the area, and the 82nd Airborne Division was deployed last week.