Law firms in the United Arab Emirates, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are gradually bringing employees back to physical offices after a brief period of widespread remote work triggered by heightened regional tensions involving Iran. The shift marks a return to normalcy following weeks of uncertainty that had prompted many professionals to temporarily leave the country or work from abroad.

According to a report by the Financial Times, several US-based law firms operating in the region, including Jones Day and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, have begun asking staff to resume in-person work as early as next week. These instructions come after a fragile ceasefire followed earlier escalations in the Gulf, which had raised serious security concerns across the UAE’s business hubs.

The initial move to work from home was driven by safety precautions after tensions escalated and some Iranian strikes targeted Gulf-related interests. During that period, many international firms allowed employees to relocate or operate remotely. However, the easing of the US embassy’s shelter-in-place advisory, citing reduced aerial threat risks, has encouraged firms to reconsider their office-based operations.

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Despite the renewed push for office attendance, some employees remain cautious about returning. Lawyers who had left the UAE during the crisis have expressed concerns about lingering security risks, especially given the fragile nature of the ceasefire between the US and Iran. One lawyer cited by the Financial Times said that apprehensions remain high even after the temporary truce was extended.

To support the transition back, some firms are offering assistance to returning employees. Cleary Gottlieb, for example, is reportedly covering relocation expenses for staff returning to its Abu Dhabi office from May 4. While attendance is not strictly mandatory in many firms, partners are being encouraged to work from offices, particularly in key locations such as the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Senior partners have noted that client expectations are also influencing the shift, with some demanding in-person advisory rather than remote consultations. With schools reopening and regional conditions stabilising, firms are increasingly viewing the return to office work as a necessary step toward restoring full business operations in the UAE legal sector.

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