Lee-Ann Liebenberg captures and then deletes Dubai bombing footage

On Saturday evening, February 28, in Dubai, Lee-Ann Liebenberg posted a brief video showing a bombing that had occurred near her location.

She deleted the video not long after. 

Liebenberg relocated to Dubai with her husband, Nicky van der Walt, and their children in September 2023.

A year later, Van der Walt launched TANG Dubai. This restaurant, located in the prestigious Palace Downtown Hotel, offers scenic views of both the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa.

The shaky footage suggests she was visibly affected by what she had just witnessed.

A fire is seen igniting near the entrance of the Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai. This occurred after debris, originating from the interception of an Iranian missile targeting US military bases, fell onto the premises.

The video has appeared on various news and social media platforms, leading to speculation about its removal from her Instagram account.

This is concerning given that Dubai, a premier global, year-round tourist destination, is home to many expats and welcomed 19.5 million international visitors last year.

Dubai is renowned for its iconic landmarks, including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, along with the Dubai Fountain and the Dubai Frame.

The city also boasts modern attractions such as the Museum of the Future, Dubai Aquarium and the Dubai Miracle Garden. 

Furthermore, visitors can explore the Palm Jumeirah, home to the Atlantis Hotel and the Aqua Adventure Water Park.

The recent attacks were part of a wider conflict, following reported US-Israel strikes on Iran, which prompted Iran to launch retaliatory missiles and drones toward Israel and US military bases in the Gulf region.

The escalation has affected cities across several Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Despite the absence of a caption or spoken words in the video, followers flocked to the comments section to offer prayers for their safety. These were some of the comments posted before the video was taken down. 

Nerisha Balkaran wrote: “Pray you & your family stay safe 🙏🏼.”

Agirlhasnowillpower added: “Omggg stay safe!!!!!!”

“Praying for your safety, Lee 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻,” posted Julia Morte.

Neil commented, “South Africans, please stay safe. 🙏🙏🙏.”

Jade Da Silva added: “Prayers for you, my angel! Sending love and safety your way ❤️.”

Meanwhile, airport closures across the Middle East have, in the meantime, severely disrupted global travel.