Israel-Iran conflict: Companies evacuate hundreds of employees from region
'Since June 13 when the conflict began, we have evacuated over 200 people from different locations,' said Gulnaz Ukassova, the regional Security Director for Information & Analysis at International SOS.
'There are people who are already moving, not just from those two countries, but also from neighboring countries — and others that are in the process of planning. We help them with not just evacuating from the country, but also securing transport and support with all of the logistical arrangements afterwards.'
The conflict between Iran and Israel escalated dramatically on Sunday when the United States bombed 3 Iranian nuclear sites.
Another expert added that while international companies are evacuating employees from several countries in the region, they are not doing so from the UAE. However, flexibility is being offered.
'We are not aware of companies in the UAE relocating their employees,' said Tom Griffin, Managing Partner of Middle East & Africa of evacuation company, Control Risks.
'Instead, they are focusing on clear and frequent communication, a lesson well learned during the pandemic, to reassure their staff that they are monitoring the situation and taking steps to ensure their safety. Many are offering flexible work-from-home options to minimise disruption while keeping operations running smoothly.'
Challenge of misinformation
According to Tom, technology has dramatically changed the way evacuations are done; however, they could also pose a challenge. 'Today, we can tap into multiple trusted sources in real time, allowing us to make informed decisions faster than ever before,' he said. 'This speed is a game-changer; it enables us to respond to emerging threats with agility. However, it also introduces the new challenge of information overload, as well as dis- and misinformation.'
He added that rumours, speculation, and misinformation can slow or even prevent decisions from being made.
Gulnaz said that in the 'era of misinformation', clients depend on them to give accurate information. 'We promise to provide our clients with verified intelligence and actionable advice,' she said. 'So we tell them the situation and give advice and recommendations on what they can do.'
Constant monitoring
Both companies said that they constantly monitor the situation on the ground. 'We have an established global methodology for evacuation ratings and will define triggers specific to the situation on the ground, that prompt upgrades and downgrades of the ratings,' said Tom. 'Ratings are usually reviewed on a daily basis, but decisions to change them are weighed very seriously because of their implications on both people and business as well as associated costs."
With the situation in the Middle East continuing to be fluid, Gulnaz said that they had sounded early warnings to their clients. 'On June 3, we published an in-depth analytical report where we looked at scenarios of how US-Iran talks might proceed,' she said. 'We indicated in that report that the likelihood of Israeli operation against Iran is very high. So based on that, we started advising clients early on.'
Factors to be considered
According to her, International SOS operates 28 global assistance centres, including one in Dubai, to ensure swift evacuation from anywhere in the world. She said that key triggers that prompt companies to evacuate their staff include direct threats to life, such as violence, civil unrest, or regional conflict spillover and operational barriers like curfews, internet shutdowns, and electricity outages.
Tom added that other factors that were considered include whether land, sea or air borders were open or closed. 'We also have to look at the population of the workforce, whether they are expat or local and duty of care expectations,' he said. 'The nature and criticalness of services provided on the ground and business continuity considerations is another important factor. For example, a sales office is easier to close and reopen than a critical infrastructure asset. The risk of local movement to evacuate versus sheltering-in-place and available insurance and implications for triggering insurance claims are other important factors.'
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