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Middle East Edition
4th March 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Millions of Asian migrant workers in Gulf at risk amid conflict

Millions of migrant workers in the Gulf region are at risk as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli strikes. The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Pakistan are monitoring the location of their citizens and preparing evacuation and repatriation plans, and Vietnam has suspended the deployment of workers to the region. Bloomberg notes that previous conflicts in the Middle East have seen some migrant workers abandoned by employers, often without their wages or travel documents.
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REMOTE WORKING

Qatar Central Bank extends remote work until further notice

Amid current conflict conditions, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) has announced the continuation of the remote work system for all financial institutions in the state, effective from Tuesday until further notice. The QCB said that each institution must identify employees whose roles necessitate physical presence at the workplace.
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CYBERSECURITY

Iranian-linked cyber activity surges

The digital activity of Iranian-linked cyber groups has increased tenfold since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, according to Tel Aviv-based cyber security company Check Point Software Technologies. Attacks and activities have focused on Israel and Arab countries and have included phishing attempts and alleged “hack and leak” operations, Check Point has said.
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ECONOMY

Global retailers shut Middle East stores as conflict disrupts luxury hub

Global luxury and mass-market brands have closed stores and scaled back operations across the Middle East as escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran disrupts business, travel and consumer activity in the region. Luxury groups including Kering have temporarily shut stores in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, while Chalhoub Group closed outlets in Bahrain and is operating with voluntary skeleton staff elsewhere. Amazon has suspended regional deliveries, closed its Abu Dhabi fulfilment centre and reported drone strike damage to three data centres in the UAE and Bahrain. Brands such as Apple, H&M, and Primark are adjusting store openings and operations, while Reckitt has shifted staff to remote working and halted travel. The Middle East, which accounts for 5%–10% of global luxury spending but has been the sector’s fastest-growing region, now faces airport closures, halted tourism and security risks that could cost hundreds of millions of dollars if disruption persists.
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RISK

Norway's wealth fund employs AI to identify ESG risks

Norway's $2.2tn sovereign wealth fund is leveraging artificial intelligence to screen companies for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks, including potential links to forced labour and corruption. The fund, which invests in around 7,200 companies globally, reported that “within 24 hours of our investment, the AI tools flag new companies” that may present risks, enabling proactive measures to avoid potential financial losses. This innovative use of large language models significantly enhances the fund's ability to assess smaller companies in emerging markets, where data coverage is often limited.
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WORKFORCE

Early salary payment for Dubai government staff ahead of Eid Al Fitr

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has ordered early salary payments for Dubai Government employees ahead of Eid Al Fitr. The decision aims to help staff prepare for the holiday, which is officially recognised from 19 to 22 March for federal employees and 19 to 21 March for the private sector. The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) anticipates Eid Al Fitr will begin on 20 March, depending on the moon sighting.
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INTERNATIONAL

Australian state to enshrine the right to work from home

The Australian state of Victoria is to launch legislation ‌to give employees the legal right to work from home two days ​per week. The legislation is to be introduced to Parliament in July, and is expected to take effect in September. "Work from home works for families, because it saves time and money and it gets more parents working," said Premier Jacinta Allan. "That's why we will protect work from home in law from 1 September." Prof Peter Holland, a human resource management expert at the Swinburne University of Technology, observed: “This is something the workforce actively wants, and employers who ignore that do so at their own risk.” Allan revealed that small businesses will not be exempt from the laws. She said the government had consulted extensively with businesses and decided that applying the policy to all employers was a matter of “fairness.”

ICE faces vetting challenges amid hiring surge

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing significant challenges in vetting new hires amid a historic recruitment push. An internal email reveals concerns about the “high volume of new hires” and stalled background checks, which could create uncertainty for field ‌offices when allegations arise related to actions before joining ‌ICE. “If a Field Office receives derogatory information about a newly hired employee's conduct prior to . . . employment, please refer the matter to [the internal Integrity Investigations Unit],” the email stated. Despite hiring 12,000 officers, critics, including US Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), warn that accelerated recruitment may allow unqualified candidates into the agency, potentially increasing officer misconduct. Claire Trickler-McNulty, a former ICE official, emphasized the importance of thorough background checks, saying: “To speed, shortcut, or limit background checks or training puts the public and other law enforcement officers at risk.”

Mexico prepares for 40-hour work week by 2030

Mexico has approved a bill to reduce the standard workweek from 48 to 40 hours in a move that will benefit nearly 13.4m workers. The bill passed with overwhelming support in the Chamber of Deputies, with 469 votes in favour. However, critics worry that the reduction may lead to increased overtime hours. The reform will be implemented gradually, trimming two hours each year until 2030. President Claudia Sheinbaum introduced the proposal, emphasising that "productivity is not measured by exhaustion." The bill now requires approval from two-thirds of state legislatures to take effect.

Mizuho to replace 5,000 clerical jobs with AI in a decade

Mizuho Financial Group plans to use artificial intelligence to replace approximately 5,000 administrative positions in Japan over the next ten years in an effort to enhance productivity. Affected employees will be transferred to other roles, the bank said. “We are planning to enhance our earnings capabilities by shifting human resources to our focus areas by fully utilising AI,” Mizuho said in a statement. “It is not a headcount reduction.” Mizuho chief executive Masahiro Kihara said in October: “I don’t think humans will lose their value . . . They can aim for more value-added work.”
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OTHER

US lab-grown diamond retailer Ouros Jewels expands into UAE

US-based lab-grown diamond retailer Ouros Jewels has expanded into the United Arab Emirates, opening in Dubai as part of its continued international growth strategy. Founded in New York’s Diamond District, the company has since built a presence in Texas, the UK, Germany, France, Australia and Canada, supported by both physical locations and online retail. Specialising in lab-grown diamond jewellery, Ouros is targeting rising global demand for alternative diamond sourcing, driven by advances in production technology, pricing transparency and sustainability considerations. Its new Dubai base at Jumeirah Lake Towers positions the brand within a major global hub for gold and diamond trading and a key luxury consumption market linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
 
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