Australian cricket legend Brett Lee described Dubai as ‘one of the safest places in the world’ for women and children after relocating his family to the United Arab Emirates, weeks before Iranian missile and drone strikes damaged key sites across the city.
The 49-year-old former fast bowler confirmed in late February that he had moved full-time to Dubai, purchasing property and shifting his family to the Gulf state.
Iranian missile and drone strikes hit Dubai this week, damaging the airport, the Burj Al Arab and a hotel on Palm Jumeirah.
Debris from an intercepted drone sparked a fire at the Burj Al Arab, while four people were injured at Palm Jumeirah.
A concourse at Dubai International Airport was damaged, four staff were hurt and flights were temporarily suspended as airlines rerouted.
The UAE said Iran fired 137 missiles and 209 drones, most intercepted, and Bahrain’s international airport also sustained material damage.
Former Aussie cricket star Brett Lee and his wife Lana Anderson now call Dubai their home
The international star has several business interests in the Middle East and recently purchased property in Dubai
Lee had called Dubai one of the ‘safest places in the world’ weeks before it was attacked by Iran
The attacks came weeks after Lee confirmed he had relocated permanently to Dubai with his family and purchased property in the emirate. Speaking about his decision, Lee said safety had been central to the move.
‘It happened pretty quickly in the end. I’ve been coming back and forth for the last 20 years, but mainly it’s been a stepping stone to get to somewhere else,’ Lee said.
‘In February last year, I came over and I just embraced the place. I loved it, and I went and had a chat with my wife and the kids. Fast forward to June I’m over here full time. I’ve been here for about eight months.’
Lee, who claimed 718 international wickets in a decorated career, outlined the reasons behind the move.
‘What captured the essence of me moving over was a number of things, [mainly] safety. This is one of the safest places in the world, especially for females and certainly for kids.’
‘This was purely a decision that was made on opportunity, lifestyle and safety. Look, Australia will always be home. I’m a very proud Australian and I love where I’ve come from. But this is next level. This is incredible.’
Lee said his wife Lana and their three children, aged six, 10 and 19, had transitioned smoothly.
‘Well, [family] to me is the most important thing. The one thing I’m proud to say is that the family have absolutely enjoyed every single moment of it,’ he said.
Several Dubai locations, including this beachside hotel, were targeted by Iranian air strikes
A plume of smoke rises from the port of Jebel Ali following a reported Iranian strike in Dubai
‘My wife loves the area, loves the place, so do my three children [aged six, 10 and 19]. The two younger ones are at school and they’ve taken to it like duck to water.’
‘It’s been a seamless transition, which you don’t really often see. The fact that at the school there are 200 different nationalities … they’re not just learning about school, learning about life and learning about cultures.’
Lee also cited commercial opportunities as a factor in relocating. He is the global ambassador for Danube Properties and is associated with investment firm Yolo.
‘From a professional and business point of view, it is astronomical what you can achieve here,’ Lee said.
‘The thing around the world is there’s a lot of red tape when you’re looking at setting up different opportunities. The thing with Dubai and UAE is a couple of factors. The first thing – it feels like the country wants you to succeed.’
‘You ask people for advice and help and they will bend over backwards to help you because everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to get ahead in life.’
Daily Mail has reached out to Lee for comment.
It comes after Olympic champion Stephanie Rice issued an emotional plea after Iranian drone strikes hit her adopted home of Dubai.
Rice asked followers to pray ‘for all my friends, loved ones and people in the UAE’ during what she described as a ‘scary situation.’
Lee is one of many Australians who now call Dubai home because of the business potential on offer
Olympian Stephanie Rice is another Aussie now living in Dubai and caught up in the escalating violence
The 37-year-old moved to Dubai in November 2023 and later married pastor Mark Lassey after meeting him in the city.
The strikes followed US and Israeli attacks on Iran and triggered widespread disruption across the Gulf region.
The US-Israeli war with Iran has entered its third day, with large-scale airstrikes continuing and President Donald Trump warning there will ‘likely be more’ US casualties after three American service members were killed and five seriously wounded.
Israel has intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon after the group fired rockets and drones in support of Iran, prompting evacuation orders for more than 50 Lebanese villages.
Iranian missiles have struck Israel, killing at least nine people in Beit Shemesh, while Iran says more than 150 people were killed in a strike on a girls’ school.
The conflict has spread across the Gulf, with Iran targeting airports, ports and energy routes, including attacks near the Strait of Hormuz that disrupted shipping.
Global oil prices have risen sharply, airline shares have fallen, airspace closures continue across the region and Western governments are scrambling to respond as the crisis widens.
