Over the past 24 hours, the United Arab Emirates has seen a series of official developments as authorities continue to manage the impact of regional security tensions on daily life, business operations and public safety. From the gradual resumption of limited airport operations to sustained remote work guidance and continued defensive activity, federal agencies have stressed the importance of verified information and precautionary measures. Below is a snapshot of the key official updates that business leaders and risk teams should be aware of.

1. Limited airport operations resume after disruptions

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the resumption of limited flight operations at major UAE airports, aimed initially at facilitating departures for stranded passengers following days of airspace closures linked to regional security events.

Dubai Airports said a limited resumption of operations began last evening March 2, with a small number of flights operating from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC).

Travellers should not go to either airport unless their airline has contacted them directly with a confirmed departure time.

2. UAE authorities ramp up official advisories

Over the last 24 hours, UAE government bodies have been actively issuing official alerts, safety directives and public guidance in response to the evolving security situation in the Middle East. Authorities have emphasised the importance of relying on verified information, following official channels for updates, and adhering to safety protocols to protect residents, workers and visitors.

National emergency and disaster authorities, including the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), reiterated that public safety is the top priority and urged residents to remain calm, stay informed, and follow government directives.

3. UAE stock markets remain closed

The UAE’s major financial exchanges — the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and Dubai Financial Market (DFM) — remain temporarily closed to allow regulators to monitor the evolving security situation and help maintain market stability.

4. Remote work and hybrid work guidance persists

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation continues its recommendation for remote work arrangements in the private sector through March 3, advising companies to allow employees to work off-site wherever feasible in the interest of safety and business continuity.

5. UAE air defences continue to intercept threats

According to the Ministry of Defence, UAE air defence systems successfully detected and intercepted further incoming threats.

The UAE confirmed that since the onset of the attack, 174 ballistic missiles were detected heading towards the country, of which 161 were successfully intercepted, while 13 landed in the sea.

Authorities also reported detecting 689 Iranian drones, with 645 intercepted and 44 falling within the country’s territory.

In addition, eight cruise missiles were identified and neutralised, resulting in limited collateral damage.

Gold prices rose for a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday as investors sought safe-haven assets amid the escalating situation involving the US, Israel and Iran.

Spot gold was up 0.7 per cent at $5,362.90 per ounce as of 0452 GMT. In the previous session, bullion climbed to its highest point in more than four weeks after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran over the weekend.

US gold futures for April delivery were up 1.2 per cent at $5,376.50.

“The scope and duration of the crisis remain very much open-ended, and with those uncertainties in play, gold is capturing the lion’s share of safe-haven demand,” KCM Trade chief market analyst Tim Waterer said.

The dollar hovered close to a more than five-week high reached on Monday, supported by firm demand and cautious market sentiment.

Gold is regarded as a safe-haven asset

While a firmer greenback typically makes dollar-denominated assets such as bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies, that inverse relationship is not absolute. In times of heightened uncertainty, such as escalating crises or broader market volatility, investors often buy both the dollar and gold as safe-haven assets.

“Gold would arguably be trading higher than current levels were it not for dollar appreciation since the crisis intensified. Inflation worries are front and centre for traders right now, given the direction of oil prices and reduced shipping volumes through the Strait of Hormuz,” Waterer added.

Spot silver edged 0.2 per cent higher to $89.64 per ounce on Tuesday after climbing to a more than four-week high in the previous session.

Spot platinum added 0.3 per cent to $2,297.05 per ounce, while palladium gained 1 per cent to $1,784.81.

Read: Bitcoin falters while banks double down on crypto

Dubai Airports said a limited resumption of operations will begin this evening, March 2, with a small number of flights operating from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC).

Travellers should not go to either airport unless their airline has contacted them directly with a confirmed departure time.

Emirates and flydubai to operate limited flights from March 2

Carriers Emirates and flydubai have also said they will operate a limited number of flights this evening.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) posted on social media platform X that exceptional flight operations have begun at UAE airports to allow stranded passengers affected by recent regional developments to depart, in line with schedules that airlines will communicate directly to affected travellers and destinations.

The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast unstable weather conditions across the UAE beginning Tuesday night and continuing through March 6, with increasing cloud cover, scattered rainfall and rough sea conditions expected in several regions.

According to the authority, cloud development will begin Tuesday night over the islands and western areas, bringing a chance of light rainfall. The low-pressure system is expected to deepen relatively on Wednesday as cloud movement shifts toward Abu Dhabi and inland areas before extending to northern and eastern parts of the country, a WAM report said.

Read more-UAE braces for light rain, cooler temperatures early this week

Rainfall is forecast across various regions, mostly light to moderate, though it may turn heavy at times over some northern and eastern areas. A gradual decrease in cloud cover is anticipated starting Thursday night.

Detailed five-day forecast issued

In a comprehensive weather bulletin, the NCM outlined expected conditions from Monday, March 2, through Friday, March 6, 2026. The forecast is influenced by a weak surface pressure system combined with an extension of an upper-air high-pressure system. This interaction will result in generally fair conditions at the beginning of the week, followed by periods of cloud cover and the likelihood of rain later in the week.

On Monday, March 2, conditions were fair to partly cloudy, with increasing cloud cover at times, particularly over western regions overnight. Temperatures dipped slightly along the western coasts, while humidity levels rose overnight into Tuesday morning, raising the possibility of mist formation in some western areas.

Winds remained light to moderate but strengthened at times, causing blowing dust. Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf ranged from slight to moderate, becoming rough overnight.

Temperature ranges varied across the country. Coastal and island regions experienced highs between 28°C and 33°C, with lows between 15°C and 20°C and relatively high humidity. Inland areas were warmer, reaching highs of up to 37°C and nighttime lows near 11°C. Mountain areas recorded milder conditions, with highs around 29°C and lows near 13°C.

Rain and winds intensify midweek

From Tuesday onward, forecasters expect conditions to become more unsettled. Tuesday may see partly cloudy skies, with rainfall possible overnight and into Wednesday morning, particularly across coastal areas and islands.

Winds are expected to shift from southeasterly to northwesterly, strengthening at times over the sea and reducing visibility due to blowing dust and sand.

Wednesday is forecast to remain partly cloudy to cloudy, with scattered rainfall and a noticeable drop in temperatures. Similar windy conditions are anticipated, especially over the Arabian Gulf, where seas are expected to become rough.

On Thursday, cloudy intervals are likely to persist, with daytime rainfall possible in coastal, northern and eastern regions. Winds will remain moderate, occasionally strengthening over the sea. Rough conditions are expected in the Arabian Gulf and, at times, in the Oman Sea.

Sea conditions are forecast to become gradually rough in the Arabian Gulf from Tuesday night through Thursday. In the Oman Sea, waves will range from slight to moderate, becoming rough at times.

Conditions improve by Friday

By Friday, forecasters expect gradual improvement, with fair to partly cloudy skies returning across much of the country. Cloud cover will mainly linger over southern areas.

Northwesterly winds will continue, while sea conditions are expected to remain rough in the Arabian Gulf and moderate to rough in the Oman Sea.

Overall, the NCM said residents can expect a mix of fair weather and cloudy periods in the coming days, along with occasional rainfall and windy conditions accompanied by a noticeable drop in temperatures.

Authorities advised residents to stay updated on official weather alerts, particularly concerning dust storms, mist formation and rough sea conditions that may affect travel and marine activities.

Bitcoin closed February down 15 per cent, extending its losing streak to five consecutive months and marking a 48 per cent decline from its all-time high of $126,500 in October 2025.

For the first time on record, both January and February have ended in negative territory within the same calendar year. Should March also close lower, it would represent six straight monthly declines — a pattern seen only once before in Bitcoin’s history.

Simon Peters, crypto analyst at eToro, commented: “Bitcoin has started March on the backfoot amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have triggered a broader flight from risk assets. This week’s US economic data — including ISM manufacturing and services PMI, ADP employment figures, and non-farm payrolls — will be closely watched ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next meeting. While markets are currently pricing in a hold on rates, softer data could increase expectations of a cut, potentially providing much-needed support to cryptoasset prices.”

Market watchers are now closely tracking macroeconomic signals, particularly US labour and services data, which could influence Federal Reserve rate expectations and, in turn, cryptoasset sentiment.

Altcoins outperform

Despite Bitcoin’s decline, select altcoins posted gains last week.

NEAR rose 17 per cent, climbing from $1.009 to $1.184 following announcements at NEARCON 2026 in San Francisco. Updates included the launch of the Near.com Super-App, which enables account management across more than 35 blockchains without manual bridging, and “Confidential Intents,” a privacy-focused execution layer for cross-chain transactions.

Polkadot (DOT) also gained 17 per cent ahead of a scheduled supply reduction on 14 March, which will cut annual token issuance by more than 50 per cent — from approximately 120 million tokens to 55 million.

Institutional momentum builds

Institutional adoption continues to gather pace despite market volatility.

Citibank has announced plans to integrate bitcoin into its core banking systems in a move aimed at making the asset “bankable.” Proposed services include institutional-grade custody, key management, wallet services, and the integration of tax, reporting and compliance workflows. The offering is expected to launch later this year.

In the UK, Barclays is reportedly exploring a blockchain platform for stablecoin payments and tokenised deposits. Earlier this year, the bank acquired a stake in Ubyx, a US-based digital money clearing system, marking its first direct investment in stablecoin infrastructure.

Together, these developments underscore the continued convergence between traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem — even as short-term price volatility persists.