Bloomberg has informed staff based across the Gulf region, including those stationed at its Dubai regional headquarters, that they may temporarily relocate and perform their duties from outside the Gulf, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday. The announcement comes amid repeated strikes targeting cities across the Gulf as tensions continue to escalate.
Companies with operations in the Gulf have been scrambling to maintain business continuity and safeguard employees after a recent expansion of hostilities. The current round of regional violence followed U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran 13 days earlier, an escalation that has precipitated a wider confrontation.
Several other major financial firms have taken similar steps for personnel in Dubai. U.S. lender Citigroup, British bank Standard Chartered and the London Stock Exchange Group have told their Dubai-based employees to work remotely, citing the deteriorating security situation.
Iran has launched a string of attacks on the United Arab Emirates, including strikes using drones at Dubai's airport, the port, hotels and residential towers, according to reporting on the incidents. The assaults have not been limited to the UAE. Iran has also repeatedly conducted strikes against targets in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman have reportedly been affected as well.
Responding to inquiries, a Bloomberg spokesperson reiterated that staff in Dubai and elsewhere in the Gulf have been granted the choice to work temporarily from outside the region. The spokesperson said most employees have not requested relocation but emphasized that those who do will be permitted to move. The company also stated that it continues to serve its clients "without interruption."
The company employs journalists and other personnel at its regional headquarters in Dubai's financial district, including staff who support its financial data terminal. Bloomberg additionally has employees located elsewhere within the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia.
The spokesperson pointed to remarks made by Bloomberg co-founder Michael Bloomberg at an event in Paris on Thursday, in which he said the company "remains fully committed to the region and to helping our customers during this difficult period."
Bloomberg's weekday morning program "Horizons Middle East & Africa" normally broadcasts from Dubai, but it did not air from the city on Thursday. The program's anchor, Joumanna Bercetche, described the reason on a post to X, referring to the "escalating situation."
An Iranian official said on Wednesday that Tehran would target banks and economic centres linked to the United States and Israel. Dubai's financial district houses offices for a number of major international banks, including American lenders, making it a focal point for concern among global firms with a presence there.
In response to the unfolding violence, many foreign governments have issued travel advisories warning against travel to the Gulf and other parts of the Middle East, and have encouraged their citizens to leave the region if they choose to do so.
The option offered by Bloomberg to its Gulf-based employees reflects wider efforts by multinational firms to balance operational continuity with staff safety while the situation remains uncertain.