ARABELLA CHI: Dubai is a ghost town. We’re living in the unknown, constantly wondering when the next ball of fire will rip across the sky. But here’s why I will NEVER move back to the unsafe UK…

Former Love Island star and model Arabella Chi, 34, tells of her horror after her new home Dubai was hit by Iranian missile attacks…

When I moved to Dubai with my boyfriend Billy Henty and our daughter Gigi in September last year, I thought I was signing up for a glamorous lifestyle – year-round sunshine and the chance to raise my child in one of the safest places in the world.

But nothing could have prepared us for the both terrifying and surreal events of the last three days.

Dubai, which is usually the perfect place to party and has become the second home of countless celebrities and influencers, has turned into a ghost town since the weekend.

The city was hit by missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the attack launched by Iran in response to the US-Israeli attacks. I even watched from my villa as three attacks were stopped, huge fireballs streaking into the sky.

We were on the beach of Palm Jumeirah island when we heard our first explosion and everyone started checking their phones to read the news. We were told that the missiles would be launched and intercepted, but people did not panic and the beach was still full. We didn’t know what was coming because we didn’t expect missiles in the sky.

We left after about an hour and began driving home, but as we passed the Fairmont Hotel, a luxury five-star resort, we heard two loud explosions as debris from a missile hit the hotel.

On Saturday night we thought, ‘Let’s go out to dinner’, but when the explosions started to become more frequent, we decided to stay home. We couldn’t even eat; My hands were shaking and the adrenaline was killing my appetite. At around 7pm we stood outside and watched the missiles being intercepted. Afterwards we sat there in silence, constantly looking at the news.

You hear an explosion and it seems like the whole house shakes. The sound is scarier than it actually is; just a captured missile. The explosion itself isn’t dangerous, but it sounds like it could be. You should also be aware of falling debris.

My brother and aunt were stranded in Dubai after visiting me; They cannot get on a plane to return to the UK. They had booked another flight for tomorrow but it was cancelled.

At night I am terrified; We don’t know what will happen. When he was silent, like on Sunday evening, he said, ‘Is that all?’ we think. But unfortunately the explosions started again this morning. The missiles target US bases, and there is one nearby in Abu Dhabi.

Living in the unknown means we have to take every precaution, but we also try to get on with our days. It would have been a different story if there had been no interventions, but knowing that the government successfully intercepted the missiles gives me confidence. I believe they will do an excellent job.

Part of the problem is that I live in a villa without a basement. We try to find places to take shelter that don’t have windows, but since our house is modern, there aren’t many. We cleared out our storage area so we could wait out explosions if necessary. I considered putting Gigi’s crib in the windowless hallway, but decided to keep her in another room with me, my husband, and our dog.

It’s a strange feeling. Yesterday no one was leaving their homes and the streets were quiet. When we went for a dog walk, we made sure we were close enough to residential areas so we could shelter in the garage if necessary.

Arabella is in the UAE with her daughter Gigi. He said they still felt safe in Dubai and would not return to the UK

Arabella Chi with her boyfriend Billy Henty and their daughter Gigi. Couple emptied storage closets in case they needed shelter

We all support each other and my community is very family oriented. Due to the precautionary closure of schools, children will be educated at home until Wednesday.

I’m lucky that my daughter, who is only nine months old, doesn’t understand what’s going on. I know parents whose children have heard about the attacks, and I can only imagine how scary it must be. Many parents tell their children that it is just fireworks.

I feel safe right now. The government keeps us updated. On Saturday, they sent an annoying alert to our phones. They say we should only leave our homes when we need to.

As a British citizen, I was asked if we plan to continue living in Dubai and my answer is yes. This is our home. Even though everything feels scary right now, our sense of security remains. I know I’m in the majority.

Everyone I spoke to agreed that given the UK’s crime rates, it’s still safer than the UK, thanks to the government’s tight grip.

None of the missiles hit their target, showing how impressive the city’s defense system was, even in the middle of the conflict.