Australian mum who relocated to Dubai recalls terrifying moment war broke out in the Middle East

An Australian mother who moved to Dubai has been left stranded and terrified as crisis erupts amid escalating regional tensions with Iran’s regime fighting to survive.

Joanne Livanidis, from Melbourne, moved to the UAE in the Middle East with her son in October where she continued her luxury property sales career and began a new chapter.

However, on Saturday their happy life in Dubai took a turn.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that 137 Iranian missiles and 209 drones were launched towards the UAE.

Of those, 132 missiles were destroyed, 195 drones were intercepted and 14 fell into the country’s waters, which caused some of the damage.

“As Australians, we are not used to this,” Ms Livanidis said.

“This is something we see on the news, to be here living it it would be a different scenario.

“It’s so so different to be living here. Such an experience for sure. We are so sheltered.

“All this unrest always felt so far from us and it is unimaginable.

“However, the bubble was pierced on Saturday.’

Just hours before missiles lit up in Dubai air space, Ms Livanidis was attending the Emirates Super Saturday with friends when phone alarms went off to signify a potential threat.

The mother-of-three said that she never thought she would experience such terror after moving from Victoria, with Dubai rates as one of the top 10 most safe places around the world, according to the World Economic Forum.

Ms Livanidis added that the Dubai Government had been great at ensuring everyone was informed and up to date. She said the military had been “incredible” too.

“When our phones alarmed with the Government instructions to take shelter due to the imminent attacks, its like I just never thought I would read a message like that,” she said.

“It was the oddest, most surreal thing. One minute you see lights in the Royal box whilst your at the Emirates races, the next minute everything changes.

“It was like Grand Central Station. Everyone was downstairs, panicked, not know what to do.”

Dubai operates an emergency alert system where every mobile phone in the country goes of with a piercing alarm sound.

The alarm translates to Arabic and English.

“The airport is closed and all the flights have been stopped,” Ms Livanidis said.

“People were sleeping in their cars. Nobody could turn on their cars to have air-con, so everyone was uncomfortable and scared because of the emissions rules.”

Ms Livanidis’ son also lives in Dubai. She has two more children in Melbourne.

Travel plans have been thrown into disarray after countries across the world closed their airspace.

It comes after the Australian Government is considering contingencies on how to bring home tens of thousands of citizens stranded in the Middle East as the US-Israel war on Iran widens.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the situation was a “very significant consular challenge”.

More than 115,000 Australians are stranded in the Middle East.