‘I still feel safer there’: Reality TV star Caroline Stanbury opens up about returning to Dubai amid Iran war

Reality TV personality Caroline Stanbury says she feels safer returning to Dubai than remaining in the United States, even as tensions linked to the Iran conflict continue to affect the region. The 49-year-old television star made the remark while speaking on Page Six’s “Virtual Reali-Tea” podcast, explaining that recent violence in the US influenced how she views safety at the moment. Stanbury was in Austin, Texas, shortly before a mass shooting occurred there in early March, and she referenced that incident while comparing the risks people face in different parts of the world.




During the podcast conversation, Stanbury pointed out that hundreds of missiles and drones had reportedly been intercepted since the conflict began on February 28. According to international reports cited in the discussion, the United Arab Emirates has recorded six deaths and more than 120 injuries since the start of the war. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Stanbury said the numbers still made her feel comparatively safer in Dubai than in many American or European cities right now. She noted that the Austin shooting and other gun-related incidents in the United States shaped her perspective while she was traveling.




Stanbury also revealed that she had been temporarily stranded in Los Angeles while her children remained in Dubai. Her twin sons, Zack and Aaron, both 16, were at home in the UAE during the period of heightened tensions. The boys are currently staying with her ex-husband, Cem Habib. The television personality shared that although she is aware of the seriousness of the situation, her teenage sons reassured her that they felt safe and encouraged her not to worry excessively while she was still in the US.




Stanbury said she plans to return to Dubai once direct flights from Los Angeles resume on March 15. She had briefly considered flying to Doha, Qatar, and traveling onward from there, but discovered that regional airspace restrictions would complicate the trip. Rather than attempting a complicated route, she decided it would be easier to remain in Los Angeles and wait until normal flight operations resume. Stanbury moved to Dubai from London in 2016 after Habib accepted a job in the United Arab Emirates. She later appeared on the reality series The Real Housewives of Dubai, which aired for two seasons before being paused by Bravo in 2024.