UAE and Qatar shift remote work rules for expats amid security risks

Gulf governments tied remote work orders to regional security

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation issued an urgent directive instructing private-sector employers to shift staff to remote work and keep personnel out of open or exposed outdoor areas, citing escalating regional security risks after US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The order ran from Sunday, March 1 through Tuesday, March 3, with further extensions left to local authorities.

Qatar moved further. The Council of Ministers extended remote work for all government employees from March 3 until further notice, covering ministries, public bodies and institutions, with carve-outs for military, security, health and roles requiring physical presence. Private-sector firms were advised to follow suit where possible, the Ministry of Labour said.

The UAE Cyber Security Council separately flagged a sharp rise in remote-work-related cyberattacks and urged stronger protections for home-based staff. Public schools and universities across the UAE shifted to distance learning for at least two weeks, affecting more than a million students.

Who the orders reach

The directives target residents and employers, not visitors. Expats and digital nomads on local payroll fall under their employer's work-from-home policies and must comply with internal cybersecurity rules when logging into corporate systems from personal devices.

Tourists and short-stay nomads aren't directly regulated by the work orders, though in-country services like government counters, business meetings and coworking access have been disrupted. The bigger concern for non-residents is the wider travel picture: the US State Department has urged Americans to depart the UAE, Qatar and other Gulf countries on commercial flights and aviation disruption has stranded large numbers of travelers at Gulf hubs, the BBC reported.

Practical steps for residents and travelers

Employers in both countries should document remote-work rotas, confirm VPN and device security and respect UAE data-protection rules covering staff monitoring. No new fees apply to compliance.

Non-residents weighing departure should:

• Check their home government's current advisory before booking
• Book commercial flights early, because Gulf hub capacity is constrained
• Confirm with employers whether in-country presence is still required
• Keep passports, residency permits and insurance documents accessible

Families with school-age children in the UAE should plan for at least two weeks of distance learning.

Read our full UAE, Qatar guide for the complete picture.