The war with Iran has threatened the UAE's image as one of the safest financial centers in the world. Local authorities have so far <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/invest/no-capital-flight-from-the-uae-only-risk-recalibration-badr-jafar/articleshow/129760839.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&amp;from=mdr">characterized</a> investors' behavior as "cautious" and asked not to confuse "short-term disruptions with structural weakness". Alexey Myagchenkov, partner at PGP Tax&amp;Legal, writes in his column for Oninvest about the current mood among investors with Russian roots in the UAE and what jurisdictions they are studying in case the situation worsens.

From Astana to Mauritius: five financial havens for business "relocation" from the UAE

The Emirates, which has been subjected to Iran's most aggressive attacks since the war began, could become a direct participant in the fighting 

UAE ready to participate in forceful liberation of Strait of Hormuz - WSJ

Emaar Properties PJSC

Several luxury developers from the UAE had to reassure investors after some of the developers' bonds fell into the zone of bad debts amid the conflict with Iran, Bloomberg has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-26/uae-developers-rush-to-reassure-investors-wary-of-iran-war-risk">learned</a>. According to the pessimistic scenarios of the companies, the drop in sales may amount to 20-30%, but they assure that even in this case they will survive.

UAE developers sounded out investors' stress scenarios with prices falling 20% - Bloomberg

For the last 10 years, the UAE has been the undisputed financial center of the Middle East and the place where projects from Russia and CIS countries are being developed. Dubai's government policy to attract investors has become a role model - other Gulf countries have actively copied the fintech and crypto-regulation of their tiny but insanely successful neighbor.

What's happening to businesses in Dubai during the war in the Middle East

An Iranian drone damaged the Dubai International Financial Center where the fund's employees work

Millennium hedge fund prepares to relocate staff from Dubai amid the war

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are planning to relax tax residency requirements for expats, allowing them to spend more time abroad without losing their favorable tax status, sources <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ea6c84c9-3385-4b32-ab25-0f439a26891d?syn-25a6b1a6=1">told the</a> Financial Times. The measure is aimed at those who left the country after the outbreak of war in the Middle East, during which Iran has repeatedly attacked various sites in the UAE, including the center of Dubai.

UAE may relax tax rules for expats who left because of war with Iran - FT

The key Emirati port of Fujairah has stopped shipping oil

Iran has set fire to a major gas field in the UAE - for the first time since the war began

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Citigroup Inc.

Iran has stepped up strikes on Dubai, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-12/iran-escalates-attacks-on-shipping-and-dubai-sending-oil-higher?embedded-checkout=true">reports </a>. On Thursday morning, the emirate's authorities reported incidents with drones: in one case, debris fell on the facade of a building, in another - a drone struck the territory of a new high-rise residential complex.

Iran has stepped up attacks on Dubai. Goldman Sachs and Citi urged employees to leave their offices

Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Shares in Saudi Arabia's oil monopoly have risen 7% since the Iranian crisis began

Saudi Aramco warned of 'disaster' for markets due to oil supply blockade

Last year, several players in the region pledged to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the US

Gulf states discuss investment review due to war pressures - FT

Chevron Corporation

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Shell plc

BP p.l.c.

There are 1.5 hours to go before the opening of major US trades

US stock futures fall more than 1%, oil rises 9%: the main thing about the markets

Brent oil jumped more than 13%, WTI - almost 10% due to the threat to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran, through which about 25% of the world's oil and a significant part of LNG passes. Goldman Sachs warns that European prices could rise by 130% if gas transit through this crossing is halted for a month. These and other topics - in our review of key events for the morning of March 2.