Citibank shuts most UAE branches until March 14 amid escalating Middle East conflict

Citibank has temporarily closed most of its branches and financial centres in the United Arab Emirates as tensions escalate in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The bank announced that the affected branches will remain closed until March 14 as a precautionary measure.

The decision comes as several financial institutions in the region take steps to ensure the safety of employees and customers. Citibank has already instructed staff working in offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai’s Oud Metha area to evacuate and work from home until further notice.

However, the bank stated that its branch at the Mall of the Emirates in central Dubai will remain operational during this period. Citibank also indicated that it plans to reopen all temporarily closed branches on March 16 once the situation stabilises.

The move follows growing concerns among banks after threats targeting Gulf banking interests linked to the United States and Israel. The ongoing regional conflict has disrupted business activity across the Middle East, prompting companies and financial institutions to adopt precautionary measures to safeguard operations.