Decision follows UAE ministry advisory recommending remote work amid regional unrest
Smoke billows from Zayed Port after an Iranian attack, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. Photo taken with a phone. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi announced the temporary suspension of in-person consular services from Wednesday, March 4, 2026, citing the evolving regional situation.
According to a circular issued by the Embassy, the decision comes in reference to a notice from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization of the United Arab Emirates, which recommended remote work for the private sector and discouraged workers from staying in open areas. Subsequently, the Embassy has suspended all in-person consular services until further notice as a precautionary measure.
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The circular states that “the temporary measure has been taken in the interest of the safety and well-being of both community members and Embassy staff,” adding that updates on the resumption of services will be communicated through the Embassy’s official channels.
Pakistani citizens have been advised to follow the instructions of local authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and stay informed through official announcements.
This development comes as the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate. On March 1, the Ministry of External Affairs issued an official advisory for Pakistani citizens in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. It had also activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) amid escalating regional tensions.
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Joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran have continued to shake the region, and the Islamic Republic has launched retaliatory attacks on US bases in the Middle East. Iranian drones attacked next to the US consulate in Dubai, causing a fire but causing no casualties. The US military base at Al-Udeid was also attacked in Qatar. These attacks came just one day after attacks on US embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait City, and a US air base in Bahrain.
The situation particularly deteriorated after it was confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint US-Israeli attack last weekend. Strikes by the United States and Israel have so far killed 787 people in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. One of the victims was a Pakistani national in the United Arab Emirates who was killed in a retaliatory strike by Iran.
