Middle East Conflict: How Businesses, Investors and Travellers Can Protect Mobility, Status and Assets

Middle East Escalation: How Businesses, Investors and Travellers Can Protect Mobility, Status and Assets

Amid escalation in the Middle East, the geopolitical risk profile for business travellers, multinationals and multi-jurisdictional investors has risen. In this post we address stable solutions for those at risk, or affected by the conflict in the Middle East. 

In recent days, Iran’s retaliatory air and drone strikes have targeted US consulates and facilities in Dubai and Riyadh, as well as a British RAF base in Cyprus. Retaliatory strikes have so far landed in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Cyprus and Israel. 

As these traditionally stable hubs for multinationals, investors and expatriates alike have faced strikes, stakeholders are increasingly looking to guard against the effects of wider escalation, asking what it would mean for their mobility, immigration status, assets and residency planning. 

The Emerging Risk Landscape

While many attacks have been intercepted and caused predominantly, infrastructural damage, there has also been an impact on civilians.

Reported Civilian Impact So Far

• The US strikes on Iran have reportedly killed 1,097 civilians
• Iran’s counter strikes on Israel have reportedly killed 10 civilians
• The Iran counterstrikes have reportedly resulted in civilian deaths including one death and 32 injuries following strikes in Kuwait and 1 death in UAE from falling debris after a drone strike was intercepted at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
• Iran reported deaths at the US consulate in Dubai, but this was refuted by the US State Department. 

Reported Infrastructural Impact So Far

• Airspace has faced temporary closures
• Airlines suspended flights and some key regional airports have faced closure. Both Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airport were closed since 28 February, but have since resumed limited flights. The authorities have reportedly put up to 7000 travellers in hotels. 
• Evacuation travel has also faced complications. One scheduled outbound flight to the UK for British nationals in the Middle East was delayed with technical difficulties
• Even where airports have reopened, heightened security procedures and unpredictable flight schedules mean travellers should expect continued disruption to international travel routes in the near term.

Reduced Consulate Capacity in the Region

Embassies and consulates operating under emergency security protocol have reduced capacity creating disruptions to visa processing, passport services, document legalisation, emergency travel documentation.

Countries around the world have issued security updates, and advise anyone in affected regions to let them know they are there. The latest advice and notifications can be accessed on government websites. 

Regional Conflict Environment

Security analysts report a period of “heightened tension” has evolved into a broader regional conflict, prompting crisis management at a governmental level. This is also the feeling among businesses, investors and families in the region. This creates three immediate areas of concern:

• Immigration status and mobility
• The safety of relocation hubs
• Protection of assets and business operations

Are Traditional Relocation Hubs Still Safe?

For decades, multinational companies relocating employees away from conflict zones have relied on a small number of regional hubs. These have traditionally included:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• Cyprus
• Qatar
• Turkey

Recent developments mean many businesses are looking for a Plan C to guard against geopolitical risks in these countries. 

Gulf Business Hubs

The UAE and Saudi Arabia remain among the most developed business centres in the Middle East. Yet both countries have recently faced missile and drone attacks linked to the wider conflict. These events do not necessarily mean the countries are unsafe for business. Both states possess advanced air-defence systems and continue to operate normally in many sectors.

However, companies should now view them as higher-risk environments than in previous years. Relocation strategies may therefore include multi-hub contingency planning rather than reliance on a single regional base.

Cyprus

Cyprus has long been used as a gateway between Europe and the Middle East, hosting multinational headquarters and regional legal structures. However, the island’s strategic military infrastructure has recently made it a potential target. A drone strike hit the RAF Akrotiri base, causing flight cancellations and raising security concerns. Although authorities emphasise that Cyprus itself was not the intended target, the incident highlights the island’s proximity to regional military operations.

The risk of more mobilised attacks against civilian infrastructure is low, and it is recommended to remain vigilant to any status changes. The Greece Citizenship by Investment route is a popular alternative within the EU freemarket and with close proximity and cultural ties. 

Diversifying Business Operations Across Multiple Jurisdictions

Periods of geopolitical uncertainty often lead companies to restructure their international operations. Rather than maintaining all regional operations in a single jurisdiction, organisations increasingly adopt multi-jurisdictional structures.

This may involve:

• Maintaining offices in both the Middle East and Europe
• Establishing backup operational centres
• Relocating certain functions to neutral jurisdictions

For example, following the Russia-Ukraine war many international firms shifted operations to neighbouring countries while maintaining limited presence in the affected market.

Foreign, as well as domestic companies, have shifted operations and employees to neighbouring countries with increasing regularity in recent years. Similar strategies could be frequently used in the Middle East if the current conflict continues.

Countries Who Have Moved Operations During Geopolitical Conflict 

Protecting Investments and Financial Assets

Investors with exposure to politically sensitive regions may also need to review their asset structures.

Escalating conflicts can trigger:

• sanctions regimes
• banking restrictions
• currency volatility
• capital movement controls

Diversification across multiple financial jurisdictions can mitigate these risks.

Many international investors now maintain:

• property assets in more than one country
• multiple banking jurisdictions
• corporate holding structures in stable economies

This approach allows capital and operations to continue functioning even if restrictions are imposed in one region.

Mobility Planning for Multinational Employees

Companies operating in the Middle East should also review their global mobility policies.

The current crisis has already disrupted commercial aviation across multiple countries, with flight cancellations and airspace closures affecting international travel routes. 

Employers therefore need contingency plans covering:

• emergency employee relocations
• alternative travel routes
• temporary remote work arrangements
• evacuation procedures for staff and families

Security advisors increasingly recommend that multinational companies establish regional mobility contingency frameworks, particularly where staff are deployed in politically sensitive locations.

Residency and Citizenship Options as a Strategic Backup

For investors and entrepreneurs, an increasingly common risk-management strategy is securing residence rights in multiple jurisdictions. Residency-by-investment programmes allow individuals to obtain legal residence in countries outside their primary home state.

Popular options include:

• European residence programmes such as Portugal or Greece
• The UAE Golden Visa
• Citizenship-by-investment programmes in the Caribbean
• Turkish citizenship through property investment

While these programmes are often pursued for travel freedom or tax planning, they are increasingly viewed as long-term geopolitical contingency planning.

Holding residence rights in more than one jurisdiction can provide flexibility if travel restrictions, sanctions or political instability affect a person’s home country.

Contribution-Based Citizenship

While many European countries like Spain have ended their Golden Visa route, there are multiple pathways still available based on contribution. 

Contribution is typically defined as:

• An ‘active investment’ such as a viable, scalable and innovative business plan in the host country, that is/or can be funded
• A merit-based application to a talent-based route. Often talent visas like the UK’s Global Talent Visa or Germany’s Opportunity Card do not require a job offer.

These routes typically offer a fast-track to settlement. In the UK, both the Innovator Founder visa and Global Talent visa offer a route to settlement in as little as 3 years. 

The Importance of Early Contingency Planning

The rapid escalation of the current conflict demonstrates how quickly geopolitical conditions can change. Within days of the initial strikes, missile and drone attacks had spread across multiple countries, embassies closed, and air travel across parts of the Middle East was severely disrupted. 

For individuals and organisations with ties to the region, waiting until restrictions are implemented may limit available options.

Effective contingency planning should therefore address three core areas:

• immigration status, mobility and legal presence abroad
• diversification of financial and business structures
• alternative residency or relocation pathways

By addressing these factors early, individuals and companies can maintain stability even during periods of significant geopolitical uncertainty.

How Can IAS Help?

If you are concerned about how the current Middle East may affect your travel or immigration status, or your future plans, please contact our team for personalised support.

We can also offer help to those businesses employing staff in the region, who are concerned what immigration steps are needed to ensure the safety of personnel.

Contact IAS today for advice on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or use our live chat to keep up-to-date with the latest immigration policies.