UAE officials: no change to daily routines despite tensions

For UAE residents, the question on Friday morning was a simple one: is anything about my day about to change? As of the October 23 update, the answer from official UAE channels is no. There is no new guidance asking people to alter daily routines, even as the region around them grows more volatile.

That volatility is real, and it is close. On Thursday, explosions were reported near the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which much of the region’s oil and trade moves. Iranian officials warned of a possible “zero hour” with Israel, and US President Donald Trump said there were no talks with Iran and that “something will happen soon.” He added that the US had “knocked the hell out of” Iran, might act “a little bit further,” and that action could come “fairly soon.” Iran, for its part, warned that American bases were in range.

The most immediate public impact sits with travel. Etihad has cancelled flights from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam through Saturday, October 24, and says further changes are possible. Emirates and flydubai have cancelled the same routes, though Dubai-Medina flights are still listed as operating. Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have suspended Saudi flights until October 24, and Flightradar24 reported diversions away from Dammam’s airport.

Saudi Arabia’s main gateway, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, is no longer completely suspended but is not operating normally. It has reopened to limited, restricted traffic after earlier closures prompted by regional security incidents and drone and missile strikes claimed by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. For UAE residents with Saudi travel plans or business ties, the practical advice is straightforward: check flight status before leaving home, because cancellations are changing daily, especially on Saudi routes.

The safety picture around the Strait of Hormuz is contested. The IRGC said four tankers were hit on Thursday while transferring oil and three more struck mines, describing it as the largest single-day toll since the war began. Those claims could not be independently verified. CENTCOM said no US Navy warship was struck, and US Central Command and American officials dismissed earlier Iranian reports as false propaganda, asserting that the strategic waterway remains open and well-monitored by US and partner forces. The IRGC also warned that continued US naval escorts through what it called “mined waterways” could trigger direct action against American bases in the Middle East and extend the conflict across the region.

Behind the scenes, the New York Times reported that US and Israeli militaries have drawn up plans for a short, intensive campaign after the midterms, and that Trump has reportedly not approved the strikes. On Thursday, Aramco evacuated its headquarters in Dhahran, and the US ordered embassy departures.

For residents, two practical warnings stand out. First, the US keeps the UAE at Level 3, meaning reconsider travel, and the US embassy urges heightened vigilance. If air-defence alerts occur, follow instructions; in earlier incidents, the UAE urged people to remain in a safe space. Second, treat unverified claims cautiously. Many Hormuz and strike reports originate from the IRGC, state media or social accounts and have not been independently confirmed.

Money is the quieter concern. Early on Friday, US crude (WTI) jumped to $100.9, up $1.46 or 1.47 percent; Brent rose to $114.6, up $1.41 or 1.25 percent; and Murban jumped $4.20, or 3.81 percent, to $114.4. Higher oil does not automatically mean an immediate rise in everyday costs. Over time, though, residents may see higher petrol, transport and imported-goods prices if shipping and insurance disruptions persist.

The next 48 hours will matter most. Watch official UAE channels, confirm flights before travelling, and treat dramatic claims with care until they are verified.