The decision follows the UAE ministry’s advisory recommending remote working amid regional unrest
Smoke billows from Zayed Port after an Iranian attack, following US and Israeli strikes against 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 effective Wednesday, March 4, 2026, citing the evolving regional situation.
According to a circular issued by the embassy, the move refers to an advisory from the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, which recommended remote working for the private sector and discouraged workers from remaining in open areas. Subsequently, the embassy suspended all in-person consular services until further notice as a precautionary measure.
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The circular said “the temporary measure has been taken in the interest of the safety and well-being of the community members and embassy staff,” adding that updates regarding the resumption of services will be communicated through official embassy channels.
Pakistani nationals have been advised to follow instructions from 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 Foreign Affairs issued an official advisory for Pakistani nationals residing in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf. It also activated its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) in a context of escalating regional tensions.
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Joint US and Israeli strikes 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 near the US consulate in Dubai, starting a fire but causing no casualties. The US military base at Al-Udeid was also hit in Qatar. The attacks come just a day after strikes 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, had been killed in a joint US-Israeli strike last weekend. Attacks 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 died in a retaliatory strike by Iran.
