Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of Sebastian Loaiza Tobio, a Colombian citizen who died this week in Dubai during attacks reported amid the military escalation between Iran, the United States, and Israel. The young man, originally from the department of Bolivar, was working in the city when the bombardments that shook the United Arab Emirates took place.
The news was confirmed by family members and Colombian authorities, who indicated that Loaiza died during one of the attacks that struck the city. His death made the Colombian one of the civilian victims of the current phase of the conflict in the Middle East, a confrontation that has expanded its scope in recent days and has sparked international concern.
Colombian national confirmed dead in Dubai attacks
Sebastian Loaiza Tobio, 36, was originally from a rural area of Colombia’s Caribbean coast and had been living in Dubai for several years, where he worked in the private security sector.
Before emigrating, he had been a professional soldier in Colombia, experience that later allowed him to find employment with security companies abroad.
Like many other Colombians who have sought job opportunities outside the country, he decided to move to the United Arab Emirates with the expectation of improving his economic situation and supporting his family.
According to initial reports, Loaiza died during one of the attacks that took place in Dubai in recent days. Reports indicate that the impact of an explosive device or fragments caused by the interception of missiles may have caused his death.
The Colombian had been living in that country for more than a decade and maintained constant communication with his family in Colombia. His relatives have said that he had plans to return in the coming months to reunite with his loved ones, after years working abroad.
The war that reached Dubai
Loaiza’s death occurred amid a new phase of the conflict in the Middle East that has involved direct attacks between Iran, the United States, and Israel. The confrontation intensified after military operations targeting Iranian objectives, which prompted a response from Tehran with the launch of missiles and drones against different points in the region.
Among the territories affected were the United Arab Emirates, where several projectiles were directed at strategic facilities. Although a large part of the attacks were intercepted by air defense systems, some fragments and debris from projectiles struck urban areas.
Dubai, one of the Gulf’s main financial and tourist centers, experienced moments of tension during the bombardments. Residents and foreign workers reported hearing explosions and warning sirens while authorities activated emergency protocols.
Emirati authorities confirmed damage to buildings and civilian casualties as a result of the attacks. The situation generated concern among the foreign communities that reside in the city, where hundreds of thousands of workers from different countries live.
The pain of a family and efforts to repatriate the Colombian
The news of the Colombian’s death caused shock in the humble town in northern Colombia where the young man was originally from. Family members, friends, and neighbors remembered Loaiza as a hardworking person who had emigrated in search of better economic opportunities.
His relatives have said that, despite the distance, the young man maintained a close relationship with his family and remained attentive to what was happening in his hometown. News of his death spread quickly in the community, where several residents expressed their solidarity with his relatives.
After the death was confirmed, the family began efforts to repatriate the body to Colombia. The process, however, could prove complex due to diplomatic procedures and logistical difficulties stemming from the conflict in the region.
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, through its consular network, it is providing support to the family and carrying out the necessary procedures with local authorities to facilitate the transfer of the body.
The case of Sebastian Loaiza also reflects the vulnerability of thousands of foreign workers living in areas affected by international conflicts. Although Dubai has, for years, been one of the most attractive work destinations for migrants from different parts of the world, the recent attacks have shown how regional tensions can reach even cities considered relatively safe.
As military operations continue in the Middle East, Loaiza’s family hopes to be able to say goodbye to him in Colombia. In Magangue, his hometown, the death of this young man has become a reminder of the human impact that international conflicts can have, even thousands of miles away.
Bombings in deeper areas of Dubai: mall streets, Palm Jumeirah, and compounds around Burj Khalifa are all related to the assets of Trump and his family, zionist hideouts, and Mossad centers.
There are reports of mass casualties and damage. More attacks are ahead, which may lead… pic.twitter.com/iAF9YN53CE
— Thomas Keith (@iwasnevrhere_) February 28, 2026