The safe streets of Qatar are a key draw for foreign workers, who enjoy tax-free incomes and the Gulf’s mild winter weather. But on Monday evening, a volley of Iranian missiles heading for a US military base burst that comfortable bubble.  

The sound of explosions — shaking windows and activating emergency sirens — triggered panic inside Doha’s plush Villaggio Mall. Shrieks filled the cavernous hall and shoppers bolted for exits. Video footage showed a black shoe abandoned in the hurry. Across the usually tranquil city, parents comforted children frightened by the blasts. 

Among millions of mobile expatriates who power the oil-rich region’s economies and make up about half the Gulf’s population, Iran’s attack on Qatar has prompted questions about safety in countries long regarded as oases of prosperity and security in a troubled region.