The decision follows UAE ministry advice recommending remote working amid regional unrest
Smoke billows from Zayed Port after an Iranian attack, following the US and Israeli attack on Iran, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. Photo taken by phone. PHOTO: REUTERS
The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi has announced the temporary suspension of personal 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 from the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, which recommended remote work to the private sector and discouraged workers from remaining 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 for the safety and well-being of both community members and embassy staff,” 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 stay informed through official announcements.
The development comes as the situation in the Middle East continues to deteriorate. On March 1, the Ministry of External Affairs issued an official notification to Pakistani nationals 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 strikes by the US and Israel against Iran have continued to shake the region, with the Islamic Republic launching retaliatory strikes on US bases in the Middle East. Iranian drones struck next to the US consulate in Dubai, starting a fire but causing no injuries. The US military base in Al-Udeid was also hit in Qatar. These attacks came just a day after attacks on US embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait City and on a US airbase in Bahrain.
The situation worsened especially after it was confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israeli strike last weekend. Attacks by the US and Israel have so far killed 787 people in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. One of the injured was a Pakistani national in the UAE who died in a retaliatory attack by Iran.
