'We heard fighter jets': Sania Mirza opens up on Dubai tension, returns home

Former Indian tennis legend, Sania Mirza has returned to India after experiencing a tense and uncertain atmosphere in Dubai, where she resides with her son. The former tennis star chose to travel back to Hyderabad ahead of Eid, prioritizing her child’s comfort and safety amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.

Mirza, 39, revealed that the situation in Dubai had become unsettling due to recent developments linked to rising tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. While the United Arab Emirates remains largely secure, reports of nearby activity and airspace incidents created an atmosphere of unease.

Speaking to NDTV, Mirza shared a chilling moment that influenced her decision to leave.




“We heard fighter jets above our house and saw interceptions. There was debris that fell around 400-500 metres from where we live, Honestly, Dubai is my second home. A few incidents occurred, and at that point, I thought it would be better to come back. We didn't feel unsafe, but it did feel uncertain.”

A key factor in her decision was her young son, who began asking questions after witnessing the tense environment.

“You don’t want your child going through that. He was asking questions. It didn’t feel unsafe, but it did feel uncertain and unsettling, School is supposed to start next week, but we’ll monitor the situation. I’m lucky that I can come back to Hyderabad and still have a home here with family.” She Said

Returns Home for EID Celebration

Back in Hyderabad, Mirza is embracing the comfort of family during the holy month of Ramadan. She highlighted how special it is to spend Eid in her hometown.

“I hope things settle down soon. I come every Eid. We try to spend the last week of Ramzan in Hyderabad because Ramzan here has to be experienced. It's always nice to be around family.” Mirza said

“My son loves coming to his grandparents because nobody says no to anything here. He's travelled a lot already, so he adjusts anywhere.” she added.

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