SA expats lean on ubuntu amid Middle East war

As South African expats in the Middle East find themselves thrust into the fear and uncertainty of escalating conflict, it is a sense of community they are clinging to for comfort and stability. Just weeks after arriving in Dubai, in the spirit of ubuntu, Makida Kumalo (24), from Durban, has opened her home to fellow South Africans seeking comfort, safety, and solidarity. Kumalo arrived in Dubai three weeks ago, with just three suitcases and ambitious plans to grow her Airbnb management business.

She never imagined that within days she would witness air strikes lighting up the night sky, or feel compelled to turn her apartment into a gathering space for compatriots far from home. She was in her apartment when the first strike occurred. Later that night, while out for dinner, she saw a missile streak across the sky before striking Palm Jumeirah.

Since then, she admits she has felt anxious, especially when she hears big sounds, and is uncertain about what each new day might bring. Her greatest concern is that if the situation escalates further, South Africans in the UAE may struggle to leave.