The United Kingdom has decided to temporarily repatriate the families of its embassy personnel in Dubai as a precautionary measure due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
In response to the current security situation, the UK Foreign Office has opted to withdraw the dependents of British Embassy staff from the United Arab Emirates. However, the British embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are functioning normally.
Recent attacks involving Iranian strikes in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have prompted this move. The UAE military reported that they had successfully intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
Official figures indicate that as of March 9, four individuals have lost their lives, and 117 have been injured in the UAE. The country has experienced over 1,500 drone and missile attacks since February 28, surpassing the total attacks faced by all other targeted nations combined.
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence revealed that approximately 94% of these attacks were intercepted, with the remaining drones either landing in the sea or within the country’s borders.
British fighter jets are currently engaged in defensive operations to support the UAE, intercepting two drones heading towards Jordan and Bahrain. Additionally, the UK Ministry of Defence disclosed that defensive air sorties are being carried out in solidarity with the UAE.
Due to flight suspensions in the UAE, more British citizens are scheduled to depart on a government-chartered flight, contingent on the situation on the ground. Over 37,000 British nationals have already returned to the UK from the Middle East since the beginning of March.
UAE’s ambassador to the UN, Jamal Jama al Musharakh, has called for de-escalation in the region amidst ongoing Iranian strikes. Al Musharakh emphasized that the UAE will not be involved in any attacks against Iran, despite being targeted in an unjust manner.
Al Musharakh reiterated the UAE’s stance of not participating in attacks against Iran from its territory or engaging in any conflict with the nation.
