CAIRO, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Inside a modest home in Egypt's northern Beheira governorate, the traditional preparations for Eid al-Fitr have been overshadowed by the glow of a smartphone screen.
For the family of Ahmed Kamal, a 32-year-old kitchen cabinet installer working in Riyadh, the holiday's usual greetings have been replaced by a single, recurring question: "Ahmed, are you in a safe place?"
Kamal is one of millions of Egyptian expatriates currently living in Gulf Arab countries amid a significant escalation in regional hostilities. Following the beginning of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, the Gulf has seen a surge in ballistic missile and suicide drone attacks.
For many Egyptian families, the economic promise of migration has been complicated by the realities of a conflict zone. Kamal moved to Saudi Arabia several months ago, seeking a more stable income to support his wife and two young children.
"He moved to escape hardship at home, only to encounter a regional war," said his wife, Kholoud Ibrahim. She now messages her husband throughout the day. "When he is even a few minutes late to answer, I start to imagine the worst."
The anxiety is shared across Egypt. In Cairo's Nasr City district, Fadia Mohammed, 75, monitors news reports from Abu Dhabi, where her son, Mahmoud Tawfiq, works as a construction foreman. The worrying mother said she stays awake until dawn, waiting for a voice note confirming that her son's family is safe.
"The reports of strikes on infrastructure in the UAE are constant," the old lady said. "Every breaking news now feels personal."
According to official data, the Egyptian diaspora in the Gulf is vast, including approximately 1.47 million citizens in Saudi Arabia and nearly 1.3 million in the United Arab Emirates. Since the conflict escalated on Feb. 28, hundreds of strikes have targeted the region. While many attacks are aimed at U.S. military installations, others have struck civilian infrastructure, including airports, desalination plants, and energy facilities located near residential neighborhoods.
For the families left behind, the focus has shifted from financial upward mobility to basic survival.
"Money becomes much less important," Kholoud Ibrahim said. "I just want to hear my husband's voice saying he is okay." ■