British property investor Samuel Leeds has been widely criticised after boasting online that he chartered a £150,000 private jet to leave Dubai during ongoing missile and drone attacks, despite insisting the city remains 'perfectly safe'. Leeds, 34, shared videos from a Gulfstream jet bound for Heathrow and suggested others stranded in the region should simply pay for private travel, saying he did not understand 'why everyone is not doing this'.

His comments came as thousands of holidaymakers struggled with mass flight cancellations following Iranian strikes across the Gulf, which have left several people dead and dozens injured. Leeds had earlier described himself as 'trapped' with missiles flying overhead, but later downplayed the danger, claiming Dubai is safer than cities in England and the United States.

Online critics accused him of flaunting his wealth and being insensitive to those unable to afford soaring private charter costs. His departure also drew attention amid broader scrutiny of social media influencers in the United Arab Emirates, some of whom have portrayed the situation as stable despite travel chaos and government warnings against non-essential travel to the region.