War in Iran sparks professional services remote work boom in Gulf

"Professional services firms are booming in the Gulf region, especially in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, driven by rapid economic diversification away from oil, as well as by massive government-backed infrastructure projects. However, following the strikes, many of the firms in these countries told City AM they shifted policies to focus on staff working remotely rather than being in the office."

"Since Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's surprise attack on Tehran in the early hours of Saturday morning, Iran has retaliated with strikes on major cities in the Middle East, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Doha in Qatar. As of earlier this week, Iran launched 189 ballistic missiles and 941 drones at the UAE, and so far, the Iranian attacks have killed three people and injured 78 others since Saturday."

"The British expat population in the UAE is among the largest outside the UK, with estimates of 130,000 to 240,000 British nationals living and working there, and a significant concentration in Dubai. While around 20,000 to 22,000 British nationals live and work in Qatar."

Following Iranian retaliation strikes on Middle Eastern cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, professional service firms across the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia implemented emergency protocols to protect employees. The attacks, which included 189 ballistic missiles and 941 drones, resulted in three deaths and 78 injuries. Flight cancellations and regional disruptions prompted major firms to transition hundreds of staff to remote work arrangements. The British expat population in these regions, numbering between 130,000 to 240,000 in the UAE and 20,000 to 22,000 in Qatar, faced heightened safety concerns. UK Foreign Office guidance advised nationals to avoid windows and doors, prompting businesses to prioritize employee safety through remote work policies.

Read at City AM