The US Mission to the UAE has advised American expats in the country to remain alert following warnings of potential aerial threats.

The guidance comes after alerts issued by the UAE Ministry of Interior, with officials confirming that recent aerial threats were successfully intercepted.

A Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory from the US Department of State remains in place, urging citizens to exercise increased caution while in the country.

Embassy operations continue with adjustments

The US Embassy Abu Dhabi and Consulate in Dubai remain open but are operating with reduced staffing under an ordered departure status, with non-essential personnel temporarily relocated.

Routine visa services are currently suspended, although emergency consular services remain available.

What US expats should know?

Authorities have encouraged citizens to stay informed through official channels and be prepared to follow safety instructions if needed, including temporary shelter-in-place measures.

Precautionary advice includes:

• Staying away from windows during incidents
• Keeping basic emergency supplies ready
• Maintaining communication with family members

Officials say the situation is being closely monitored, with further updates expected as needed. UAE authorities have emphasised that response systems are active and effective, with safety remaining a top priority.

Passport services at Pakistani missions in the UAE have resumed, bringing relief to thousands of expats affected by a recent outage.

The Consulate General of Pakistan and Embassy of Pakistan confirmed that passport services are now fully operational as of Tuesday, May 5.

The disruption, which lasted around eight days, was caused by a technical fault at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports (DGI & P) headquarters in Islamabad, leading to a temporary suspension of passport services at missions abroad from April 29.

What should applicants do now?

Officials have advised applicants to visit embassies and consulates during designated service hours to complete passport applications and renewals.

Wider impact across the Gulf

The outage affected Pakistani missions across multiple countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, leaving many unable to process documents during the disruption.

Pakistanis expats can now move forward, easing pressure for those needing urgent travel or documentation.

Students across the UAE will temporarily return to distance learning from May 5 to May 8, as authorities take precautionary steps to ensure safety and continuity in education.

In Dubai, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) confirmed that all private schools, nurseries and universities will switch to online learning during this period.

The move aligns with a nationwide directive from the Ministry of Education, which applies to both public and private institutions across the country.

Schools have been instructed to activate their remote learning plans, ensuring that classes, assignments and administrative operations continue without disruption.

What about universities?

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research also confirmed that higher education institutions will follow the same approach.

However, some programmes will continue on campus, particularly those that require:

• Clinical training
• Laboratory work
• Practical or field-based learning
• In-person examinations

Why the shift?

Officials said the decision is part of precautionary measures to safeguard students, staff and the wider community, with authorities continuing to monitor the situation closely.

The move follows a statement from the Ministry of Defence regarding the interception of aerial threats, after which authorities emphasised that safety systems responded effectively.

What parents and students should expect

For families, this means a short return to online classes, similar to previous remote learning setups. Schools are expected to provide schedules and guidance directly to parents and students.

Authorities said the situation will be reviewed on May 8, with the possibility of extending remote learning if required.