Telegram CEO’s ‘comparison post’ for Europe’s crime rate vs Dubai amid Middle East war gets reply from Elon Musk |
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov recently shared an online post comparing safety in Europe with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In an X post, Durov said that Dubai remains statistically safer despite the ongoing tensions in the region. The post sparked online debate and caught the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In his reply to Durov’s post, Musk endorsed the UAE’s superior safety and governance compared to parts of Europe. “No country is perfect,” he said adding “but Dubai and UAE broadly are objectively safer and better run than many areas of Europe”. The exchange occurs during Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks on US assets in the Gulf region starting late February 2026.
What Telegram CEO said about Europe safety
Sharing the post, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov wrote:“Unfortunately, I had to leave Dubai for Europe a week ago — so I’m not only missing the free fireworks from Iran, but also exposing myself to greater risk. Given Europe’s crime rates, Dubai is statistically safer even with missiles flying. Can’t wait to be back”.
US-Israel-Iran War
Israel and the United States continued to strike Iran while Israeli forces responded to attacks from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group by hitting targets in southern Lebanon. The war started on Saturday, February 28 with the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike. Reaction ranged from jubilation to condemnation, while the escalating conflict has caused canceled flights, deadly protests, suspended shipping and soaring oil prices.According to an AP report, the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran stoked fears of a wider war and damage to the world economy. Iran, on the other hand, has expanded its attacks to regional oil infrastructure, directly targeting the lifeblood of the region’s economy.US President Donald Trump said the US objectives include destroying Iran’s naval and missile capabilities and preventing the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He expects the operation to take 4 to 5 weeks, he said.”This was our last, best chance to strike — what we’re doing right now — and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” Trump said.
