Arabella Chis Sushi Date Amid Missile Threats

shared a look at her date night with her boyfriend Billy Henty just one day after she said she was terrified over the Iranian missile strikes.

The former Love Island star, 34, told how she was planning to 'hide her family in a storage cupboard' after clearing it out as a precautionary shelter for her brood.

Arabella detailed the full extent of her fear surrounding the situation exclusively in her own words for M+, and why she still won't move home.

However, just a day after making the claims, Arabella was posting pictures from her romantic evening out, seemingly feeling more relaxed about the situation.

Arabella had previously explained that they had planned to go for dinner on Saturday but cancelled at the last minute due to the airstrikes.

Their date was moved to Monday, where they dined al fresco on a balcony at a swanky sushi restaurant in the city.

Arabella cosied up to Billy in the sweet snap, as the father of her daughter Gigi wrapped his arm around her in the snap, captioned: 'A forever kind of love'.

Arabella looked stylish in a black long sleeved top and cropped jacket with jeans, while her blonde hair was worn in loose waves.

She also shared a glimpse at their food and a clip of the surrounding area.

Arabella and Billy received a wealth of supportive messages from fans in the comments section after keeping them updated on their situation in Dubai.

The reality personality appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday, telling viewers she was 'scared' about what was happening around her.

Arabella, who shot to fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2019, revealed plans that she was moving to the UAE back in August last year after welcoming her daughter Gigi in June with boyfriend Billy Henty. 

Arabella is one of the many famous faces who have shared their fears on social media, after being stuck in widespread revenge attacks across the Middle East following US airstrikes.

She appeared on the show to talk to Ed Balls, 59, and , 55, about how she has been coping with it all.

Ed asked her what advice she has been given to stay safe, to which Arabella said: 'They are saying stay away from windows, obviously I am near a window right now, we cleared out our storage cupboard yesterday, there are no windows there. 

'We are in a house with a lot of windows, obviously at night, you can't get away with it as such when there is a lot of windows in the type of house we're in.

'In our storage cupboard, there isn't any windows, so if we did hear a bang, we feel like we needed to escape, that's where we would go. 

'So far we haven't had to do that.' 

The presenter also pointed out that it wasn't what she was expecting when she decided to go and live there, to which Arabella said: 'It's a very, very, scary time out here. 

'It's obviously apprehensive because we don't know what's coming but I feel like we're in good hands and the government have been unbelievable so far. 

'It's been scary, we're safe which is the main thing.' 

Explaining what happened over the weekend, the Love Island star said: 'So on Saturday afternoon, we were actually on The Palm and that is when we first heard the bang. 

'We actually saw everyone on their phones, that was when the news had announced there were interceptions in that video just now. 

'That was right outside our house on Saturday night. That was probably the most scared I have ever been in my life. 

'You don't know how many are coming, it was very very scary.'

She added: 'It is scary, when you see them in the sky outside your house, you don't know how far they are. The bangs, it is scary. 

'But so far the government has been unbelievable, I feel like as scary as it is, I'm not going to say we're not scared, when we go to bed at night.

'I've got a daughter at nine months old, it is scary, you want to hold your loved ones close to you, but the government have been amazing and they have intercepted the majority that have come our way so far.' 

Susanna asked if she would leave Dubai with her baby and she replied: 'I'll be honest with you, the government are being unbelievable. I feel despite being scared, I do feel safe.

'As it stands right now, we have no bags packed, we're not planning on leaving. 

'That's as it stands now. Obviously if things got worse, then yeah I might relook at that situation. But I feel they are intercepting everything that is coming our way at the moment. 

'I don't feel like that is the need. My brother and sister-in-law are stuck here, they were supposed to fly two days ago. They are in that situation where they need to get back to the UK. 

'Hopefully there will be a solution to that soon, but they are here with us at the moment.'

It comes after Arabella updated fans on Instagram and explained that her brother who was visiting her is now stuck in Dubai until the situation is resolved.

Sharing her own take, she said: 'I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has messaged us. It honestly means more than you know.

'It’s such a scary time out here at the moment. The past 24 hours have been something I’ve never experienced in my life. We are safe — that’s the main thing. I don’t know if you can hear it, but the bangs are still going off as I’m recording this. We’re staying at home, all together. My brother and sister-in-law are here too. They were actually supposed to fly back to the UK today, but I’m sure those flights will be cancelled.

'It really puts so much into perspective. It’s frightening — and I know I keep saying that — but it is. When it’s the unknown, and you can hear everything from your house, it’s impossible not to feel scared. Last night we could actually see them not far from where we live, and it was petrifying.

'Gigi is at an age where she doesn’t understand what’s going on, which is such a blessing. I know so many friends whose children do understand, and my heart goes out to them.

'To anyone else in Dubai who follows me, all we can really do is support each other and be there for one another during this time. We’re taking every precaution we can and just staying inside together.

'But truly — thank you to everyone who has reached out. The messages, the love, the support… it doesn’t go unnoticed. It means everything.'

No one disputes that the United Arab Emirates government has done a decent job of defending its citizens from swarms of Iranian missiles and suicide drones.

But they're doing an even better job in the information war, aided not by sophisticated air defences but by a secret army of international influencers, including well-known British names, singing their praises and lauding  as the 'safest place on earth'.

The Daily Mail has learned that behind the glitzy, public relations messages of solidarity lies a different reality and the hard-line regime would not hesitate to imprison or deport anyone whose output was judged 'harmful' to the reputation of the UAE.

The government has even cracked down on those reposting genuine footage of the first of the attacks on Saturday, which included drones or debris causing damage at the five-star Fairmont Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah and the iconic sail-shaped Dubai hotel Burj Al Arab in flames.

The Dubai Media Office announced within a few hours of the first strikes that 'outdated images of past fire incidents' in Dubai were being spread to stoke fear among the city's residents and thereby garner clicks.

'Legal action will be taken against those who publish or republish such content in violation of UAE law,' the post read.

And in a country with one of the worst human rights records in the world, where severe restrictions on freedom of speech are backed up by an opaque justice system and widespread torture, no one takes such warnings lightly.

Criticising or insulting the UAE government or its institutions or spreading false rumours can result in fines of up to £200,000, or up to five years in prison, and possibly deportation. A situation made more intolerable if you own property there.

One influencer, insisting on anonymity, told the Daily Mail: 'Influencers are terrified of speaking out against the Dubai government.

'They believe it's a huge risk to voice their fears or reveal what's really happening and are worried they could be deported or lose their homes.

'British citizens can be deported, lose their jobs, or even face arrest for stepping out of line.

'Influencers and celebrities in particular have been instructed to present a rose-tinted image of Dubai on social media, acting as though everything is normal. They've been strictly warned not to scaremonger on platforms with massive followings.

'The government wants the impression that life is continuing as usual - and any suggestion otherwise is treated as a serious offence.'

Another visitor told the Daily Mail that she wondered 'how much we're not being told about the frequent bangs in the distance which never get media coverage in the last few days'.

She added that when she was about to take a photo of a cratered pavement damaged by a drone or debris, a more seasoned Dubai resident stopped her, warning her darkly: 'You don't want to rock the boat.'

In a briefing on Tuesday by Brigadier General Abdulnasir Al-Humaidi, the official figures for the missile and drone strikes since the Iranian attack began were released.

Of 186 ballistic missiles launched, only one landed on UAE territory, with 172 intercepted and destroyed and 13 falling into the sea, the General said.

The defence against drones was less effective, with 57 of them getting through, out of 812 launched.

Gen Al-Humaidi spoke of three people killed (whose identities have never been released) and 68 others with 'minor injuries', none of whom have featured in the media.

As for the buildings and infrastructure, only 'mild' damage was caused, he said.

Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison, currently holidaying in Dubai, was clearly following the official line when she told her followers that the portrayal of 'Dubai being bombed' was 'hyperbolic' and insisted that any damage was caused by falling debris.

She added: 'Currently what we've been advised through government channels is that they are intercepting missiles competently and efficiently and what has subsequently caused damage and tragically harm is falling debris.'

British model and influencer Petra Ecclestone seemed to depart from the official script when she told her followers: 'We came to Dubai to feel safe, and we finally felt like we were settling in, and now this has happened.'

But she posted in her Instagram stories: 'This is what safety feels like. This is what resilience looks like. This is UAE.'

She added: 'Covid. Floods. Missiles. Every time, the same story told differently, the world watching, waiting for Dubai to break. Every time, the same answer. It didn't.'