Ex-CNMI residents in Dubai cope with Middle East tensions, recall island roots

For former Northern Marianas residents now living in Dubai, the recent drone attacks on Iran have turned daily life into a mix of caution and continuity. From government alerts to the hum of intercepted missiles, the trio—model Zhee Frazier, events manager Enrico Cardoniga, and journalist Jojo Das—say residents are adapting while hoping for peace.

“You’re constantly on your feet, you’re constantly being alert, even if you try to have a peaceful sleep, and you would get this message … to seek shelter and try to be alert,” said Zhee Frazier, originally from Rota, recalling the first night she witnessed a nearby explosion. “For the most part, everybody’s still living the normal life. Most businesses are still open. The only part that’s partially disrupted is the airspace, the airport, and other than that, everybody still tries to stay calm because of how well-protected we are.”

Frazier, 32, who moved to Dubai in 2023 to pursue modeling and now aims to enter the healthcare field, described the frightening experience firsthand.

“Last night … it was not really an attack, but more of the destruction, which was like 500 meters away from me, so that was really scary,” she said.

Despite the tense environment, she emphasized the need for diplomacy over conflict. “War is not the answer. That’s all I can say. Our U..S leaders, this is not the answer, because a lot of people are getting affected. Those innocent lives, those people who are not aware even that there’s war happening.”

Her memories of island life remain vivid despite the conflict in the Middle East.

“[It’s] mostly the food … also, how close the people are, the community, the natural beauty of the islands, how family-oriented we are. Just spending time a lot on the beach, time with my friends and my family is what I miss a lot,” Frazier said.

For Enrico Cardoniga, formerly a resident DJ at Saipan’s GIG Discotheque, Dubai has been home since 2008.

“Honestly, it’s a bit tense, but life is mostly normal here nowadays,” he said. “We sometimes hear loud booms at night and even early morning, you know, the sound of the air defense system interrupting … So it’s a little scary at the start, but we feel safe now because of the air defense system of the United Arab Emirates.”

Cardoniga credited UAE defense systems, including THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, and Iron Dome, for protecting residents from drone and missile threats.

He also noted the alert system that informs residents about debris, which allows businesses and daily life to continue.

“After 10 minutes, another message will be sent to the general public telling them that you can go back to your work. Life is normal,” he explained.

Journalist Jojo Dass, who worked for Marianas Variety and later the Beach Road Magazine, now edits Global Stories DXB in Dubai. He described a city where life carries on despite conflict.

“Dubai. They wake up in the morning. They go to the metro. They drive their cars to work … life goes on. Work as usual. Life as usual,” Dass said. “Stop the war. It’s not doing us any good. What’s the point? Stop the war and talk things over, and we can live happily ever after.”

Dass reflected on his time in the CNMI, where he lived from 1995 to 2008. “I missed it a lot, because here you have the beach. We go to the beach, sleep there the whole weekend, Friday up to Sunday … People start to do some fishing. It’s beautiful.”

For all three, Dubai is a study in contrasts—a modern, well-protected city amid regional unrest, offering professional opportunities far from the Pacific islands they used to call home.

“These too will pass,” Dass said, sending a message of reassurance to his CNMI friends.