Law Firms in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Push Staff to Return to Offices Amid Geopolitical Shift

Law firms are pressing staff to return to offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, triggering pushback from lawyers who left the United Arab Emirates at the height of the Iran conflict and are now wary of coming back, Financial Times reported.

US firms including Jones Day and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton have asked employees in the region to resume in-person work as early as next week, according to people familiar with the matter who told FT.

The move has frustrated some lawyers who relocated abroad during the conflict and now face steep costs to return — despite earlier assurances from firms on flexible working arrangements. One lawyer at a US-headquartered firm said concerns remain over the security situation, pointing to the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that followed weeks of hostilities, including Iranian strikes on Gulf states.

US President Donald Trump recently extended the two-week truce indefinitely just before it was due to expire.

The push to return marks a reversal from earlier guidance, when firms had asked staff to work remotely following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran. The shift comes after the US embassy lifted its "shelter-in-place" advisory earlier this month, citing an end to Iran's aerial attacks on the UAE.

To ease concerns, some firms are offering financial support. Cleary, which has asked staff to return from May 4, is covering relocation costs to and from its Abu Dhabi office, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Others are considering similar measures.

Cleary Gottlieb said its Abu Dhabi office "is open to all staff that wish to go in". It added that it would "continue to be accommodating of, and flexible to our people while ensuring that we continue to provide the highest standards of service to our clients at all times".

At some firms, the return remains unofficially optional — but expectations are shifting. One partner at a top US law firm said that while attendance at its Dubai International Financial Centre office was not mandatory, partners were being encouraged to be physically present to stay close to clients. He noted that one family office client had insisted only advisers in the emirate could attend a recent meeting, barring remote participation.

Another senior partner described the UAE's situation — having faced direct Iranian attacks — as "very unique", but added that with schools reopening, "it's the right time for adults to return to offices as well".

The episode highlights a growing tension between corporate expectations and employee caution, as firms seek to restore normal operations while lingering geopolitical risks continue to shape decision-making.