OVERVIEW
conflict created operational and economic pressures in certain activity in the UAE, including air travel, shipping routes, supply mobility and financing conditions. In response, federal and regulators and free-zone bodies introduced a range of at maintaining business continuity, reducing short-term and supporting affected companies and individuals. in several stages. Initial measures focused on immediate and safety, including remote-working arrangements, residency relief, assistance for residents stranded abroad and labour-market continuity. Financial and regulatory including liquidity and loan-support measures, temporary fee deferrals, licensing flexibility and sector-specific assistance for by the disruption.
WORKFORCE & RESIDENCY Remote work, mobility, re-entry and immigration relief.
FINANCIAL & REGULATORY Banking resilience, fee relief and regulatory flexibility.
TRADE & SUPPLY CHAINS Alternative corridors, customs and cargo continuity.
SECTOR SUPPORT Tourism, SMEs, retail, property and affected activities.
CUSTOMS & LOGISTICS Trade facilitation, land freight and East Coast routing.
LONG-TERM RESILIENCE Localisation, supply-chain security and route diversification.
measures are those introduced, activated or expressly applied in response to the 2026 regional disruption and its effects on business operations, workforce mobility, financing, trade, logistics and other areas of economic activity. were intended to address specific consequences of the conflict and provide temporary operational, financial or regulatory and longer-term measures are included where there is a clear connection to economic resilience, supply-chain trade-route diversification or business continuity, even where the relevant authority did not expressly present the as conflict-related. Some formed part of existing or broader strategic programmes but became more relevant or were following the regional disruption. They should therefore be distinguished from measures introduced specifically as relief.
A. Direct Measures
Measures introduced or activated specifically in response to the regional disruption, including workforce, residency, financial, regulatory, sector and trade-continuity support.
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 1-3 March 2026 | Private-Sector Remote Work and Worker Safety Measures | MOHRE recommended that private-sector establishments implement remote work wherever possible for three days and avoid placing workers in open areas, except for vital and essential roles requiring physical attendance. The measure was introduced as a safety response to the regional security situation. SOURCE The National – Private -sector remote work |
| 4 March 2026 | ICP Overstay Fine Exemptions for Travellers Affected by Airspace Closures | ICP exempted those who were unable to leave the UAE because of airspace closures and flight suspensions from overstay fines incurred from 28 February 2026. The relief covered visitors, tourists, exit-permit holders and residents who had cancelled their residency permits in preparation for departure. SOURCE ICP – Overstay fine exemptions |
| 12 March 2026 | MOHRE Labour-Market Business Continuity and Worker Safety Measures | MOHRE confirmed that flexible work systems and digital government services were supporting continuity of private- sector operations during the regional developments. It also carried out field visits to workplaces and worker accommodation to check safety standards and brief supervisors and workers on procedures to follow during official alerts. SOURCE MOHRE – Labour market business continuity |
| 15 March 2026 | Return Assistance for Stranded UAE Residents and Golden Visa Holders | MOFA and NCEMA facilitated the return of around 500 UAE residents and Golden Visa holders who had been stranded abroad because of regional developments, airspace closures and disruption to international aviation. This supported residency and workforce continuity for affected UAE-based residents. SOURCE MOFA – Return of stranded residents |
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 17 March 2026 | Flexible Remote Work for Federal Government Caregivers | Federal Government employees responsible for children affected by continuing distance learning were permitted flexible remote-working arrangements where their roles met the applicable requirements. The measure supported employees with childcare responsibilities while maintaining government operations. SOURCE WAM – Flexible remote work for federal caregivers |
| 17 March 2026 | CBUAE Five-Pillar Financial Institution Resilience Package | The Central Bank introduced a banking-sector support framework in response to extraordinary regional and global circumstances. It gave banks greater access to liquidity, temporary relief from liquidity and capital-buffer requirements, flexibility in classifying affected loans, and encouraged continued lending. By May, approximately AED 6.2 billion in support had been provided, including loan deferments, interest relief and fee waivers, benefiting individuals, SMEs and corporates. SOURCE CBUAE – Financial Institution Resilience Package |
| 30 March 2026 | Dubai AED 1 Billion Economic Incentives Package | Dubai introduced its first broad economic relief package, effective from 1 April for three to six months. Measures included three-month deferrals of various government fees, deferral of hotel sales fees and the Tourism Dirham, extension of customs declaration grace periods from 30 to 90 days, and measures to streamline residency issuance and renewal. The package was intended to relieve short-term financial pressure on businesses and individuals. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – AED 1 billion package |
| 31 March 2026 | ICP Re-entry Relief for Residents Stranded Abroad | ICP allowed residents whose residence permits had expired while they were stranded outside the UAE to enter the country without obtaining a new entry visa until the end of March 2026, together with exemptions from overstay fines. ICP expressly linked the measure to the exceptional regional circumstances experienced since 28 February 2026. SOURCE ICP – Exceptional residency measures |
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 30 March / 1 April 2026 | Dubai Residency, Labour Mobility and Staff- Accommodation Relief | As part of the Dubai AED 1 billion package, residency renewal and cancellation procedures were simplified, including waiver of accrued fines. Labour mobility between establishments in Dubai and its free zones was facilitated, and municipal housing fees relating to staff and labour accommodation could be deferred for three months. The measures supported workforce continuity and retention. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – AED 1 billion package KPMG – Workforce implementation details |
| 9 April 2026 | DIEZ Temporary Economic Measures | Applicable across Dubai Airport Freezone, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai CommerCity. Measures included stabilising rents on renewal, waiving selected administrative and late license- renewal fees, monthly rent instalments without instalment fees, three-month deferrals for certain shareholder and activity amendments, and waivers for restructuring and authorised-capital amendment fees. DIEZ expressly stated that the measures responded to the current regional situation. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – DIEZ measures |
| 9 April 2026 | DIFC Authority Relief Package | A separate package for businesses operating in DIFC included flexible payment plans for retail and commercial businesses, instalment arrangements for license renewals, support for retailers and grace periods for certain administrative payments. Contemporary reporting identified the package as assistance to companies dealing with the fallout from the regional conflict. SOURCE The National – DIFC and DFSA relief measures |
| 9 April 2026 | DIFC Employee Registration/ DEWS Administrative Relief | As part of the DIFC temporary relief package, grace periods applied to certain administrative payments, including those relating to registering employees into the DIFC Employee Workplace Savings (DEWS) plan. This provided temporary administrative relief for DIFC employers in relation to employee registration processes. SOURCE DIFC – Relief measures |
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 9 April 2026 | DFSA Temporary Regulatory Relief | DIFC-regulated financial firms covering licensing and administration, governance and staffing arrangements, regulatory reporting and supervision, and implementation timelines for selected regulatory initiatives. These measures were intended to help firms maintain operations during the regional conflict. SOURCE DFSA – Temporary regulatory relief measures |
| 23 April 2026 | Ajman Tourism Support Package | Ajman introduced six months of relief for tourism businesses, effective from 1 March. Measures included deferred tourism fees, waivers of license-renewal and event-permit fees and late penalties, interest-free instalment plans, free museum entry through 2026 and exemptions from certain exhibition and promotional participation fees. SOURCE WAM – Ajman tourism support package |
| 29 April 2026 | National Programme to Strengthen Supply Chain Resilience | A federal programme was introduced to secure essential food, medical and industrial goods by diversifying import sources, increasing local manufacturing and agriculture, identifying alternative suppliers and developing international partnerships. More than 150 vital commodities were assessed, and the programme was reported as having been developed and tested during the attacks. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – National Supply Chain Resilience Programme |
| March-May 2026 | Alternative Trade Corridors, Green Corridor and Air/Land Bridges | The UAE activated alternative routes through Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, air-freight bridges for critical food and pharmaceutical cargo, the UAE-Oman Green Corridor, and a Sharjah-Dammam trade bridge. The Dubai Customs Oman Green Corridor was operationalised rapidly following disruption to shipping routes. AD Ports also rerouted traffic, expanded road and rail capacity and deployed air-cargo solutions. SOURCE WAM – UAE response to disruption of global trade routes WAM – Dubai Customs Green Corridor |
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 21 May 2026 | Dubai AED 1.5 Billion Second Economic Incentives Package | between three and 12 months and brought total Dubai support to AED 2.5 billion. It covered tourism, education, culture, customs, transport, construction, government contracting and other sectors. Measures included fee exemptions and deferrals, rent relief, an 80 percent reduction in customs fines, instalment arrangements for customs liabilities, extension of SME memberships, relief for events and tourism businesses, and reduced government-contract security requirements. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – AED 1.5 billion second package |
| 3 June 2026 | Abu Dhabi Temporary 0 Percent Rental Increase Cap | Abu Dhabi temporarily reduced the permitted annual rent increase from 5 percent to 0 percent for residential, commercial and industrial tenancy renewals across the emirate. This materially helped households and businesses facing higher operating and living costs during the period. The official announcement, however, focused on housing continuity, market conditions and economic predictability rather than expressly attributing the measure to the conflict. SOURCE ADREC – Temporary Annual Rental Cap update |
| 16 June 2026 | Sharjah Economic Relief Package | Sharjah introduced a three-month package aimed at supporting business continuity following the conflict. It included a 50 percent reduction in industrial license fees for food and pharmaceutical businesses, 50 percent reductions for certain micro-business licenses, waiver of late-payment penalties for micro-licenses, and 25 percent reductions for nursery licensing and promotional campaign permits. SOURCE WAM – Sharjah economic facilities The National – war recovery package |
B. Indirect & Longer-Term Resilience Measures
Measures with a meaningful economic or resilience connection to the regional disruption, but which were not always expressly presented by the relevant authority as conflict-relief initiatives.
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 6 April 2026 | Dubai South SME Support Package | Dubai South introduced rent-free incentives linked to renewals, payment-deferral flexibility, waiver of minor administrative penalties and maintenance of existing rental rates for eligible SME renewals. The package was framed around safeguarding economic stability and business continuity, although the official announcement did not expressly identify the regional conflict as the cause. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – Dubai South support package |
| 13 April 2026 | Dubai Healthcare City Economic Support Measures | DHCA waived reinstatement fees and late commercial-license renewal penalties for specified periods, allowed license- renewal payments in instalments, and permitted postponement or restructuring of lease cheques while waiving certain deferment and returned-cheque charges. The official announcement referred to resilience and evolving conditions rather than expressly attributing the package to the conflict. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – DHCC support measures |
| 26 April 2026 | AED 1 Billion National Industrial Resilience Fund and Localisation Measures | The UAE established an AED 1 billion National Industrial Resilience Fund to support localisation of critical industries, supply-chain security, strategic reserves and domestic production. Related decisions expanded mandatory application of the National In-Country Value Programme and set a target of fully localising more than 5,000 critical products. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – National Industrial Resilience Fund |
| 2026 accelerated | Long-Term Alternative Energy and Trade Routes / Reduced Reliance on Strait of Hormuz | The UAE has been expanding East Coast port capacity, pipelines, railways and alternative trade corridors to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Elements of this diversification strategy pre-date the conflict. The regional disruption accelerated implementation and strengthened the strategic imperative. SOURCE Reuters – alternative trade and energy routes |
C. Recent Measures – July to September 2026
Later measures and developments showing continued operational support and a stronger shift toward logistics, customs and strategic route resilience.
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 1 July 2026 Component of the wider Sharjah package | Sharjah Planning, Surveying and Investment Fee Relief | Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey introduced a three-month deferral for planning, surveying and investment fees exceeding AED 10,000 for businesses and activities most affected by ongoing events. Eligible businesses could also settle deferred amounts through flexible instalment arrangements. SOURCE Sharjah24 – SDTPS financial relief measures |
| 9 July 2026 Logistics resilience | DP World Adds 700 Trucks to GCC Road-Freight Network | DP World acquired 700 additional trucks, adding capacity for up to 35,000 truck trips per month across the GCC. The expansion is relevant because land transport has become an alternative to disrupted maritime routes. DP World also referred to fast-track bonded corridors from East Coast ports to Jebel Ali and from Sohar in Oman, as well as Red Sea routing through Jeddah. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – DP World expands GCC road freight network |
| July 2026 Component of the wider Sharjah package | Sharjah SEWA Support for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses | SEWA introduced temporary operational and financial relief for tourism establishments, including an additional month to pay utility bills, instalment arrangements, a three-month waiver of disconnection penalties, security deposits payable in four instalments, temporary exemption from engineering- plan approval fees and flexibility for utility connections and inactive meters. The programme ran through the end of August. SOURCE Gulf News – SEWA tourism business incentives |
| 22 July 2026 Strategic resilience | Two New Fujairah East Coast Terminals | DP World and Fujairah Ports Authority agreed to develop the Al Rugaylat container and multipurpose terminal and Dibba General Cargo terminal under a 50-year concession. Al Rugaylat is planned for up to 2.5 million TEU annually, while Dibba will add up to 3.6 million tonnes of general-cargo capacity. Their East Coast location provides additional routing options outside the Strait of Hormuz. SOURCE Dubai Media Office – New Fujairah terminals |
| DATE | INITIATIVE | DESCRIPTION / SOURCE |
| 30 July / effective 3 August 2026 | Dubai E-Commerce Customs Exemption Increased to AED 1,000 | Dubai Customs issued Customs Notice No. 16/2026, increasing the customs-duty exemption threshold for qualifying cross- border e-commerce goods from AED 300 to AED 1,000. Dubai Customs later included this among measures supporting businesses and trade amid geopolitical shifts. SOURCE Dubai Customs – Customs Notice No. 16/2026 |
| 26 August 2026 Business continuity support | Dubai DET Force Majeure Guide for Businesses | DET issued practical guidance to help Dubai businesses understand force majeure, contractual disruption and steps to consider when performance is affected. It is guidance rather than financial relief and does not itself change UAE contract law, but it is relevant to businesses dealing with disrupted shipping, supply chains or performance obligations during the conflict. SOURCE Dubai DET – Force Majeure in the UAE: Guide for Businesses |
| September 2026 Direct strategic response/ long-term resilience | Acceleration of the UAE Zero Hormuz / Alternative-Route Strategy | UAE officials confirmed in September that the country is accelerating investment in alternative trade and energy routes following the attacks, including increased East Coast port capacity, rail connectivity, pipelines and alternative economic corridors. The underlying diversification strategy predates the conflict. The new element is the acceleration and explicit emphasis on reducing dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. SOURCE Reuters – UAE builds alternative trade and energy routes The National – Zero Hormuz strategy |
OUTLOOK
The measures identified in this report cover both immediate support and longer-term economic and operational initiatives. Financial, fee and residency measures addressed short-term needs, while initiatives relating to trade facilitation, transport infrastructure, customs procedures, localisation and supply-chain development support broader business and economic continuity.
Together, these developments reflect continued attention to business operations, connectivity, mobility and the movement of goods across the UAE and the wider region.
BUSINESS PLANNING
The measures are relevant across several areas of business planning, including financing, workforce mobility, contractual arrangements, logistics, procurement and supply-chain management.
Developments in transport routes, customs processes and logistics infrastructure also provide businesses with additional options when considering regional distribution, sourcing and operational arrangements. Financial and regulatory measures may likewise support companies in managing their activities during periods of changing regional conditions.
MEASURE AVAILABILITY
The availability and application of individual measures depend on their respective terms, duration and eligibility requirements. Certain initiatives apply to particular sectors, license holders, customers or categories of businesses and individuals.
The relevant authorities, regulators, banks, free-zone authorities and other responsible bodies provide the applicable conditions, procedures and implementation details. These requirements may also be updated as individual measures develop.
LONGER-TERM DIRECTION
Longer-term initiatives continue to focus on trade connectivity, logistics capacity, localisation, infrastructure development and supply-chain resilience. Alternative transport corridors, customs facilitation, East Coast capacity and domestic production initiatives form part of the UAE’s broader economic and infrastructure development.
These developments expand the range of routes, facilities and operational options available to businesses and support greater connectivity between the UAE, regional markets and international trade networks.
NOTE: This overview is based on publicly available information and is intended for general information only. Individual measures may be time-limited, subject to eligibility criteria or implementation conditions, and may have changed since publication. It does not constitute legal advice.