Lisandro Trindade Vieira, a businessman from Balneário Camboriú, Brazil, recounted a harrowing experience in Abu Dhabi as tensions escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. On Saturday, the group he was with observed multiple missiles being intercepted in the sky, leading to chaos and fear among tourists, including a video capturing the alarmed reactions of Brazilian visitors.

While dining in a restaurant, staff members instructed the group to evacuate for safety reasons as cellular alerts began to sound. Amidst the explosions and the reinforced military presence, Lisandro described the frantic movement of many Brazilians attempting to flee from popular tourist areas, highlighting the uncertainty and anxiety the situation caused.

Lisandro, who serves as the director of internationalization for the Santa Catarina Technology Association (Acate), often brings entrepreneurs from Santa Catarina to technology events in Dubai, spending considerable time in the region due to business ties. The events underscore the risks associated with geopolitical tensions in regions where business and tourism often interlink dangerously.