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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.laoistoday.ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Samanta-Hauberte-Dubai-Middle-East-Iran-War.jpg?fit=1200%2C720&ssl=1\" "\\"Samanta")
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A Laois woman who is living in Dubai has opened up about what day to day life in like as the war in the Middle East continues.\n<\/p>\n
Samanta Hauberte, from Portlaoise, is a bikini bodybuilder who swapped the gym for real estate in January and headed to Dubai.\n<\/p>\n
On February 28, Israel and the United States launched coordinated joint attacks on various sites in Iran, which started a major conflict.\n<\/p>\n
In response, Iran fired a series of missiles across the Middle East and some buildings in Dubai have been struck.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nUp to that point, Samanta was thoroughly enjoying life in the United Arab Emirates.\n<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI came to Dubai to give real estate a go, as I wanted to try something new and look for better opportunities in life.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cReal estate has been very interesting so far. It is definitely challenging, but it has also been a great experience.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment I am working in real estate, while also continuing my online coaching in the fitness industry.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cBefore everything happened, life in Dubai was very busy and active. The city is always moving and there are always opportunities.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI was working in real estate during the day while also continuing my online coaching, so my routine was very focused on work and fitness.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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Looking back now, Samanta remembers the exact moment that daily life changed.\n<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cThe first time I realised the situation might affect us was Saturday, February 28.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI was doing online check-ins for my coaching clients when suddenly I heard a lot of very loud bangs. It honestly felt like my soul left my body because I had no idea what was going on.\n<\/p>\n
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\u201cI stepped out onto my balcony \u2014 the building I live in is U-shaped \u2014 and I could see a lot of other people stepping out onto their balconies as well, so I knew I wasn\u2019t the only one hearing it.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter that, more missiles and drones were going off throughout the night, which could actually be seen from where I\u2019m staying in Studio City.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
And what have the days and weeks been like since it all kicked off?\n<\/p>\n
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Samanta said: \u201cSince then, most days a warning notification comes up on my iPhone telling people to stay away from windows, stay inside, and go to the nearest safe building if necessary. It definitely makes people feel uneasy.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though the situation is being looked after, it\u2019s still scary to think about. I never thought I would find myself in a situation like this where missiles and drones are being intercepted in the sky.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are also jets constantly flying overhead, which can be heard every day as well.\n<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhen the first incident happened and everyone stepped outside to see what was going on, a lot of people were confused and uneasy.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation has affected daily life in many ways. Schools have been closed, and my workplace has also been closed, so I have had to work remotely.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with that, it has been difficult to work properly because many people are understandably distressed and not really in the mood for buying or selling property at the moment.\n<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe airport was closed temporarily, and many flights were rescheduled or changed. Normally traffic in Dubai is very hectic, but recently it has been the complete opposite with very little traffic on the roads.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom where I am in Dubai, some areas have been targeted and missile interceptions have happened, which hasn\u2019t been nice to witness.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if it is not directly where I am, it still feels very close when you can see and hear what is happening in the sky.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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While many Irish people have returned home since the conflict began, Samanta says that she and many others like her have decided to stay.\n<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI have been in touch with other Irish people living here, and a lot of us have mixed thoughts.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cWe do love it here and many of us came here for opportunities that are difficult to find at home.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family and friends back home are very worried and are asking me to come back, but for now I am staying here for the meantime.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is that many young people left Ireland for a reason.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a housing crisis and limited opportunities, and personally I wouldn\u2019t want to be living with my parents into my thirties. That is one of the reasons I decided to come here.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
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Buildings in Dubai were damaged again by missiles over the weekend but Samanta is hoping that eventually, everything will settle down.\n<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cOf course none of us know what the future will bring, but everyone is hoping things settle and life can return to normal.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cThe message I would send back home is that everyone here is looking out for each other and things have calmed down for now.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course people are still cautious, but we are hoping everything will settle and we can return to our normal routines.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
SEE ALSO \u2013 \u2018I\u2019m getting teary just thinking about it\u2019 \u2013 Laois family finally home from Middle East warzone<\/a><\/strong>\n<\/p>\n