Former Paralympic athlete Jessica Smith has made a striking declaration that her residence in Dubai provides a safer environment than living in Australia, even as war continues to rage across the Middle East region. Smith, aged 41, originally competed as a swimmer in the 2004 Paralympic Games held in Athens, Greece, before relocating to the United Arab Emirates due to her husband's professional commitments.
A Life Built in the Emirates
The couple have successfully raised their three children in Dubai since moving there, and Smith expresses no apprehension about returning to the city after a recent holiday spent on Australian shores. In an interview with News Corp, she elaborated on the unique sense of security experienced in Dubai.
'There are 200 nationalities living side by side in Dubai, and the fact that everybody feels so safe is something we certainly do not take for granted,' Smith stated emphatically. 'It is something I have not experienced in Australia.'
Addressing Anxieties and Regional Perceptions
Smith acknowledged that residents naturally feel anxious and nervous because nothing like the current conflict has ever occurred in the UAE before. 'We are all doing what we can to support one another, and we are all making decisions that are best for our families,' she explained.
The motivational speaker, who was born with a missing hand and forearm, emphasised that education plays a crucial role in maintaining their 'incredible home' in the Emirates. She directly contrasted Dubai's safety with Australia's crime levels and social friction, reinforcing her argument for the UAE's superior security.
Contradicting Official Travel Advice
This perspective comes despite SmartTraveller, the Australian government's travel advisory service, currently recommending against travel to Dubai. Smith, however, is eager to return to their base, where the family has resided since 2019.
'Nobody deserves to live in conflict... but to brand an entire region as the same is detrimental,' she added, criticising broad-stroke assessments of Middle Eastern safety.
Social Media Scrutiny and Personal Background
With over 72,000 Instagram followers, Smith also labelled criticism directed at fellow social media influencers living in the UAE as 'incredibly disappointing.' She confirmed facing online ridicule herself, with some Australians highlighting the irony of residing in a tax haven while being caught up in regional warfare.
After marrying Hamid Salamati, an Iranian-born Scotsman, in 2015, Smith later converted to her husband's religion of Islam. Her personal history includes a traumatic childhood accident at just 18 months old, when she knocked over a kettle of boiling water with her prosthetic limb while reaching for biscuits.
The incident resulted in third-degree burns covering 15 percent of her body, necessitating multiple blood transfusions and extensive skin grafts. Smith began competitive swimming at age 10, rapidly advancing to national level, though she did not medal at the Athens Paralympics and later entered rehabilitation for an eating disorder.
Despite these challenges and the ongoing geopolitical tensions, Smith maintains her firm conviction that Dubai offers a safer, more harmonious living environment for her family compared to Australia.
