NEW DELHI: The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday issued an advisory urging Indian nationals in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to avoid unnecessary travel and remain vigilant amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which began on February 28 with a joint military operation launched by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The conflict has extended to Gulf states hosting US military bases, with Iran targeting these countries in a retaliatory operation. Tehran has also carried out attacks on Dubai, the UAE’s largest city, and Abu Dhabi, its capital and second-largest city.
“In light of the current regional situation, all Indian nationals in the UAE are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, exercise caution, stay vigilant, and follow safety guidelines and advisories issued by the UAE authorities and the Embassy,” the statement said on X.
The embassy noted that it is operating normally, as is the Indian consulate in Dubai, and will continue to provide updates as needed. It also shared emergency contact numbers for Indian nationals in the UAE.
The embassy also reiterated an earlier advisory urging Indians in the UAE to avoid believing rumours and fake news.
“The members of the Indian community in the UAE are requested not to fall prey to rumours or false information regarding the security situation, and to follow the official channels of the Embassy, Consulate, and UAE government authorities for updates. Caution should also be exercised when posting information on social media about the situation, in line with advisories issued by UAE authorities,” the advisory, issued on the first day of the conflict, had stated.
Overall, West Asia, where the conflict is ongoing, is home to nearly 10 million (one crore) Indians, with about 3.5 million (35 lakh) residing in the UAE alone. Indians make up more than 35% of the UAE’s total population of 10 million.
