LIFE IN DUBAI used to be about as blissful(极其幸福的) as white-collar expatriate(外籍人士；旅居国外者) existence gets. The private schools are good, beaches pretty, flight connections plentiful and booze legal (so long as(只要) you are not Emirati or Muslim). Expats face no income tax; it barely rains; Russian oligarchs(寡头；巨富商人) can mingle with Western bankers, Arab property moguls(大亨；巨头) and Israeli entrepreneurs(企业家).
在迪拜的生活曾经是白领外籍人士所能享受到的最幸福的状态。私立学校优质、海滩美丽、航班连接丰富、酒类合法（只要你并非阿联酋人或穆斯林）。外籍人士无需缴纳所得税；几乎从不下雨；俄罗斯寡头可以与西方银行家、阿拉伯地产大亨和以色列企业家交往。
All that remains true nearly three months after America and Israel attacked Iran across the Gulf. But Dubai’s advantages must now be weighed against(与……权衡) the risk of Iranian missiles and drones raining down(如雨般落下). On May 18th one hit an electricity generator at the sole(唯一的) Emirati nuclear power plant.
在美国和以色列越湾攻击伊朗近三个月后，这一切依然属实。但迪拜的优势现在必须与伊朗导弹和无人机如雨般袭来的风险相权衡。5月18日，一枚导弹击中了阿联酋唯一一座核电站的发电机。
Although most strikes have been intercepted(拦截) before they could do real damage to Dubai and other parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), many footloose(自由自在的；行动无拘束的) foreign residents have already scattered. A few nabbed(抢到；抓住) seats on the last flights out to America or Europe. Others drove to Muscat, in neighbouring Oman, in search of alternative escape routes. Many hoped to return once the hostilities(敌对行动；战争) ceased. As these drag on(拖延), however, plenty are looking for a new, more peaceful bolt-hole(藏身处；避难所). Where are they headed? And will they ever return?
尽管大多数袭击在真正给迪拜和阿联酋其他地区造成破坏之前就被拦截，但许多自由散漫的外籍居民已经散开。少数人抢到了前往美国或欧洲的最后航班座位。其他人则驱车前往邻国阿曼的马斯喀特，寻找其他逃离路线。许多人希望一旦敌对行动停止就返回。然而，随着冲突拖延下去，很多人正在寻找一个新的、更平静的藏身之所。他们去向何方？他们还会回来吗？