The United Kingdom has decided to temporarily relocate the families of its embassy personnel in Dubai as a precautionary measure due to heightened tensions in the Middle East. The Foreign Office updated its travel advisory stating that dependents of British Embassy staff in the United Arab Emirates are being withdrawn temporarily while the embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are operating normally.
This action follows a series of explosions in the UAE resulting from Iranian strikes on various cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Emirati military reported successful interception of Iranian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. Official figures as of March 9 indicate four fatalities and 117 injuries in the UAE, with over 1,500 drone and missile attacks recorded since February 28, surpassing the total attacks faced by other targeted countries combined.
The UAE Ministry of Defence disclosed that approximately 94% of the attacks were intercepted, with the remaining drones either landing in the sea or within the country’s borders. British fighter jets are actively engaged in defensive operations to support the UAE, including downing two drones en route to Jordan and Bahrain. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed defensive air sorties in collaboration with the UAE.
Amid ongoing flight suspensions in the UAE, a government-chartered flight is scheduled to evacuate more British nationals today, contingent on the ground situation. Over 37,000 British citizens have already returned to the UK from the Middle East since March 1. UAE’s ambassador to the UN, Jamal Jama al Musharakh, emphasized the need for de-escalation in the region amidst continued Iranian strikes. He reaffirmed the UAE’s stance of not participating in any attacks against Iran despite being targeted unjustly.
Al Musharakh reiterated the UAE’s position of non-involvement in conflicts with Iran and emphasized the country’s commitment to peace.