Decision follows UAE ministry advisory recommending remote work amid regional unrest
Smoke billows from Zayed port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. Picture taken with phone. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi has announced the temporary suspension of in-person consular services effective Wednesday, March 4, 2026, citing the evolving regional situation.
According to a circular issued by the Embassy, the decision comes in reference to an advisory by the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which recommended remote work for the private sector and discouraged workers from remaining in open areas. Subsequently, the Embassy has halted all in-person consular services until further notice as a precautionary measure.
Read: Gulf businesses reel as Iran strikes trigger regional shutdowns
The circular states that “the temporary measure has been taken in the interest of the safety and well-being of community members and Embassy staff alike,” adding that updates regarding the resumption of services will be communicated through the Embassy’s official channels.
Pakistani nationals have been advised to follow the instructions of local authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to remain informed through official announcements.
The development comes as the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate. On March 1, the Foreign Office issued an official advisory for Pakistani nationals in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. It had also activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) amid escalating regional tensions.
Read More: Trump warns of longer Iran war as Riyadh, Beirut hit
Joint strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran have continued to rock the region, with the Islamic Republic launching retaliatory attacks on US bases in the Middle East. Iranian drones struck adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai, starting a fire but causing no casualties. The US military base at Al-Udeid was also struck in Qatar. These attacks came just a day after strikes on US embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait City, and on 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-Israel strike this past weekend. Attacks by the US and Israel have, so far, killed 787 people in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. One of the casualties was a Pakistani national in the UAE who died in a retaliatory strike by Iran.
