Why Aussie sport star says her home in Dubai is SAFER than living Down Under – despite the city being bombed by Iran during Middle East conflict
Former Paralympian Jessica Smith has declared her home in Dubai is safer than living in Australia despite the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Smith, 41, competed in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Greece as a swimmer before eventually moving to the UAE as a result of her husband’s work.
The couple have since raised their three children in Dubai and she has no fears about returning to the city following a recent holiday on Australian shores.
‘There’s 200 nationalities living side by side [in Dubai] and the fact that everybody feels so safe is something we certainly don’t take for granted,’ she told News Corp.
‘It is something I haven’t experienced in Australia.
‘Of course people feel anxious and nervous because nothing like this has ever happened 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.’
Former Paralympian Jessica Smith (pictured with her husband) has declared her home in Dubai is safer than living in Australia despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Smith, 41, competed in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Greece as a swimmer before eventually moving to the UAE for her husband’s work
The couple have since raised their three children in Dubai and she has no fears about returning following a recent holiday Down Under
The motivational speaker – who was born with a missing hand and forearm – stressed education is key when it comes to their ‘incredible home’ in the Emirates.
She also believes Dubai is safer, pointing to Australia’s crime level and social friction.
SmartTraveller is advising people not to travel to Dubai, but Smith wants to return to their base, where they have lived since 2019.
‘Nobody deserves to live in conflict… but to brand an entire region as the same is detrimental,’ she added.
Smith – who has more than 72,000 Instagram followers – also labelled criticism of fellow social media influencers in the UAE as ‘incredibly disappointing.’
Additionally, Smith confirmed she has been ridiculed online, with some Aussies pointing out the irony of living in a tax haven, only to be embroiled in regional conflict.
After marrying Hamid Salamati, an Iranian-born Scotsman in 2015, Smith later converted to her husband’s religion of Islam.
When she was just 18 months old, Smith was reaching for some biscuits on the kitchen counter when she knocked over a kettle of boiling water with her prosthetic limb.
She suffered third-degree burns to 15 per cent of her body, and also required multiple blood transfusions and skin grafts.
Smith competed in her first swimming carnival aged 10 and soon progressed to national level in the pool.
After failing to medal at the Athens Paralympics, Smith later entered rehab for an eating disorder.
