Chantelle Thompson, who moved to Dubai in January, is pictured with her family at Topgolf in Dubai.Courtesy of Chantelle ThompsonSome members of Dubai's expat community who left temporarily during the Iran war are returning.Amid the ceasefire, UAE schools are reopening, and in-person work is ramping up.`A private education and relocation expert said some residents are putting contingency measures in place.The cautious return to Dubai is underway. It's been over a week since a ceasefire was agreed between the US and Iran. The school gates are reopening, workers are gradually returning to face-to-face meetings, and expats who left temporarily are coming back.Sandy Zanella, a doctor and mindfulness coach, moved to Dubai from the US over five years ago.

Two weeks after the war broke out, Zanella and her family went to her husband's native Italy. Sandy Zanella said her holiday in Italy has given the kids the opportunity to practice their Italian.Courtesy of Sandy ZanellaAfter speaking with friends in Dubai and hearing that life is going on as normal, she has decided to return with her two kids on Saturday. Zanella said she feels "privileged to have this kind of opportunity" to temporarily leave, but would return even if there were no ceasefire."The uncertainty of things is kind of heavy, but what can we do?"

Zanella said, referring to her life being in Dubai right now. Safe haven status Over the past few decades, Dubai has marketed itself as a safe haven for expats, offering zero income tax, high salaries, and a luxury lifestyle. The city has been home to millions of expats from across the world across the past few decades; they make up around 90% of Dubai's population, per UAE government data.But its safe-haven status flipped overnight when the Iran war broke out at the end of February.

Iran struck the UAE with drones and missiles as part of a wider retaliation against the US and its allies in the region, causing casualties and damage to buildings and infastructure. Residents, who were initially advised to stay indoors and work from home, reported loud booms from missile interceptions and distant explosions. Tens of thousands of travelers were stranded in the UAE after the airspace around the region was closed as the war kicked off.

Hotels began slashing prices and promoting staycations to offset a drop in tourism. Schools switched to distance learning, and spring break was moved forward. Some expat families, like Zanella's, took advantage of this to temporarily leave Dubai.Dubai's Old Souk, a traditional market, photographed in April 2026.FADEL SENNA / AFP via Getty ImagesMany packed up and left altogether.

Citing official estimates, the Financial Times reported earlier this month that 30,000 British residents left the UAE since the start of the war, though it is too early to say how many have permanently left.Not all residents of Dubai were able to leave. For migrant workers, many of whom work in manual labor and as drivers for wealthy expats, the regional conflict has made life more difficult. Jason Nemerovski, a researcher at Equidem, a human rights and labor rights organization, said many have reported salary cuts."I think that is the key thing to understand when you are making a comparison between someone from "Western countries" and a Pakistani delivery rider — this was a decision made out of desperation, not desire," Nemerovski told Business Insider, about migrant workers' decision to move to Dubai.Nemerovski told Business Insider that a delivery rider he spoke to on Thursday said he plans to leave if he can find an opportunity elsewhere, but says people would rather stay despite the risks due to a lack of work opportunities in their home country.And with the ceasefire holding for now, some expats are deciding to return to their lives in Dubai, albeit with some caution.A new kind of normalThe Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which oversees private education in Dubai, announced on Wednesday that schools and higher education institutions will resume in-person teaching from Monday.

School bus services also resume that day. The UAE government advised private-sector employees to work remotely for the days following the outbreak of the war. While some residents returned to the office in the early days of the conflict, more appear to be shifting to in-person work.Charli Wright, owner and CEO of Dubai-based marketing agency JWI, told Business Insider that after a few weeks of working from home, her team has been back in person.JWI CEO and founder Charli Wright says it's important that business leaders in the UAE create stability for the whole team.Courtesy of JWI/Charli WrightWright said clients are pushing for in-person meetings, and she has continued hiring and interviewing candidates.Chantelle Thompson moved to Dubai from the UK at the end of January with her husband and three children. Despite the Iran war, her family chose to stay in Dubai, and she said leaving the city was never a consideration.