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'We feel so helpless': Iranians in UAE scramble to reach family amid deadly protests
US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to keep protesting while China and Russia have criticised the move
- PUBLISHED: Wed 14 Jan 2026, 3:08 PM
- By:
- Nasreen Abdulla
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For the past several days, Iranian expat Donya has been watching videos of the protests unfolding in her hometown of Tehran and breaking down. She had been unable to get in touch with her parents and brother and was worried for their safety.
“Yesterday, my mother managed to call me for five seconds and let me know that they are okay,” she said. “My brother has not been paid since the beginning of the unrest, and he has a small baby. I have family in cities all around the country and I am worried about them. People I know have been killed in the protests. The situation is very dire and it has taken a heavy mental toll on us.”
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Donya is one of the several Iranians all over the world who are scrambling to get in touch with their families as rampant protests rocked various cities of Iran. Internet and connectivity have been cut off for several days and over 2,500 people have been killed in the protests. US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to keep protesting while China and Russia have criticised the move. Iranian authorities have accused US and Israel of instigating the unrest.
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Feeling helpless
One Iranian resident who did not wish to be identified said that she feared for the safety of her family. “My parents are there, and I have not been able to speak to them for more than a week now,” she said. “They were here in the UAE with me and left for Iran earlier this month. I am worried sick, and I don’t know what to do. I am hoping that everything settles soon and I can bring them back here to join me.”
Several others spoke to Khaleej Times on condition of anonymity and said they were desperately trying to get in touch with their families and friends. "A close friend of mine lives close to one of the rioting hotspots," said one. "I have not been able to get in touch with him. I am just praying that he is alright. He is not the sort to go out for protests, but sometimes people get caught when stepping out for food or other necessities.”
Donya said it was hard to watch the terror unfolding in their country. “As an Iranian, the only thing you can do is sit and watch the videos on social media and screens,” she said. “We feel helpless about the situation. I reach out to other Iranians across the world, and we share our worries. In our private moments, we break down because we are so scared.”
She said her biggest worry was about her brother who moved to Iran three months ago after living in the UAE for over 30 years. “He was laid off from his company in the UAE and could not find another job in time,” she said.
“So, he is not used to the ways of the country. His wife and baby, who are of a different nationality, joined him in Iran last month. They are new and unaccustomed to the ways of the country. They have not been able to get food because everything is shut. If the protests don’t settle soon, they will run out of whatever little supplies they have.”
