Israel-Iran conflict: Keralite expatriates in Gulf face heightened anxiety and fear amid escalating tensions in West Asia

Expatriate Keralites working in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and their families back in Kerala have been living in anxiety and fear as tensions escalated in West Asia.

Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes on US military bases and strategic assets across the Arabian Gulf, following the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, have intensified fears of a wider regional conflict.

With airspace closures and nationwide advisories urging residents to remain indoors, lakhs of expatriates find themselves confined to their homes. The repeated sound of loud explosions at frequent intervals has deepened their anxiety and sense of uncertainty.

“We could not sleep a wink on Saturday night as the blasts from missile interceptions tore through the sky again and again. My daughter and my sister’s children stayed awake, huddled together, gripped by fear,” said Zaneesha Rensin, who lives in Qatar with her family.

Ms. Rensin, a middle-level manager from Thalassery in Kannur, said that although the night was terrifying, the fear is now slowly beginning to subside.

Abdurahman Meleveettil, a senior accountant based in Doha and hailing from Chaliyam, Kozhikode, said residents were gripped by fear as the sounds of blasts were heard repeatedly. “Everyone is staying indoors in Doha. Work has shifted to a work-from-home mode,” he said.

Schools across Qatar have also moved to online classes as a precautionary measure.

Panic is palpable in Bahrain, where the attack on the American Fifth Fleet headquarters occurred on Saturday. In addition to US facilities, the strikes reportedly targetted the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama, Bahrain Airport, Mina Salman Port and several residential complexes.

“Expatriates across the region are in panic. The attacks have shattered the long-held belief that the Gulf is a safe haven. Unlike Saudi Arabia, which is vast, smaller countries like Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait feel the full impact of every blast,” said Anas Yassin, a Gulf-based journalist.

‘Reality of war is hitting home’

Mr. Yassin said that authorities have urged people to stay indoors and keep highways clear. “In a small country, the effects of any explosion are far more immediate and intense,” he explained.

“Until now, we have only read about or watched conflicts from afar. Now, the reality of war is hitting home: it is literally at our doorstep,” he said.

The attack on Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, along with other strategic locations, including Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah, has sent shockwaves through the UAE, which is home to over a million Keralites. The sense of security that once made Dubai one of the world’s safest cities has been shaken.

However, life in Dubai continues almost normally, said Anvar Naha, general secretary of the National Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC) in the UAE. “The attack on Dubai airport seems largely symbolic. Civilian life here remains unaffected, aside from a few casualties caused by debris from intercepted missiles,” he said.

He said that malls, schools and offices were fully operational. “Although people are cautious, there is no widespread panic. Overall, life in Dubai is functioning almost as usual,” Mr. Naha said.

In Kuwait, anxiety has gripped expatriates, even though they suffered no major casualties. Sidheek Valiyakath, general secretary of the Federation of Indian Muslim Associations (FIMA), described the situation as “scary.”

“There is no outright panic in Kuwait, which has experienced war in the early 1990s. Drone and missile attacks targeting US and other strategic installations continued even this morning (Monday), but all were intercepted. Although Indians are not physically harmed, the fear is real and pervasive,” said Mr. Valiyakath.

He said that 560 passengers stranded at the airport were shifted to hotels and were being looked after. “When my granddaughter Fatima calls me in panic, my other granddaughter Hessa treats the frequent blasts almost like a festival,” he said, highlighting the mixed reactions among families.

Public events called off

Like most other GCC countries, Kuwait has cancelled all public events. While mosques remain open for prayers, mass Tharaveeh (special Ramadan night prayers) has been suspended.

K. Noushad, a native of Mannur living in Kuwait with his family, said they were living in constant fear as blasts frequently rent the air. “Schools are closed, and we are working from home. Markets are open but subdued. The situation could worsen if the attacks continue for several more days,” he added.

In Saudi Arabia, which hosts the largest number of Keralite expatriates in the Gulf, Iran’s attacks triggered panic in regions such as Riyadh and Dammam, even though the strikes were foiled.

“My wife and mother have been calling me constantly since Saturday. They see far more on TV than we do here,” said Mohana Chandran, a shopkeeper in Riyadh hailing from Kochi.

With nearly 4 million Keralite expatriates living across GCC countries, any escalation of the conflict could have serious repercussions, not just for those abroad but also for millions of families back in Kerala. “People are praying for this war to end soon,” said Mr. Yassin.

Published – March 02, 2026 12:56 pm IST