Security consultancy MS Risk escalated its regional assessment to “High” on 7 March, warning of continued drone and missile activity across the Middle East and advising clients—including several Irish-headquartered multinationals—to suspend non-essential travel. The 17:00 GMT bulletin highlighted partial air-space closures over the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, with Dubai International operating on a stop-start basis after debris was reported near the northern perimeter. The advisory, circulated to risk managers in Ireland’s ICT, life-sciences and construction sectors, notes that while most airports remain technically open, slot restrictions and crew-duty limits are causing rolling cancellations. Muscat and Abu Dhabi are handling limited diverted traffic, but onward connectivity to Europe is unpredictable. Irish companies with large project teams in the Gulf have now invoked “shelter-in-place” protocols. A Cork-based engineering contractor told Global Mobility News it has frozen upcoming rotations and placed all visitors in company-approved accommodation equipped with secure rooms. Human-resource leads are revisiting crisis-leave policies and confirming that employees understand the DFA’s Citizens’ Registration system. Insurance brokers Aon and Marsh say the advisory may trigger premium surcharges on corporate travel policies if exposure cannot be mitigated. They urge employers to document their decision-making process, proving that only mission-critical travel continues.
![Middle-East ‘High-Risk’ Advisory Issued: Irish Firms Told to Suspend All But Essential Travel]()
For companies and individuals scrambling to adjust visas or secure emergency travel documentation, specialist provider VisaHQ can step in quickly. Its Dublin-based portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time requirements, expedited processing options and live chat support—particularly valuable when consular hours are curtailed or flight schedules are fluid. Many risk managers now keep the service on standby so assignees can lodge extension or replacement applications without leaving their safe location.
Practically, travellers already in the region are advised to carry hard-copy itineraries, embassy contact numbers and two days’ extra medication. Those holding Irish passports with imminent visa expiry must apply for out-of-country extensions—a process now complicated by reduced consular hours. MS Risk cautions that repatriation flights, such as the Government charter that arrived in Dublin on 7 March, could be delayed by last-minute routing changes.
For companies and individuals scrambling to adjust visas or secure emergency travel documentation, specialist provider VisaHQ can step in quickly. Its Dublin-based portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time requirements, expedited processing options and live chat support—particularly valuable when consular hours are curtailed or flight schedules are fluid. Many risk managers now keep the service on standby so assignees can lodge extension or replacement applications without leaving their safe location.
Practically, travellers already in the region are advised to carry hard-copy itineraries, embassy contact numbers and two days’ extra medication. Those holding Irish passports with imminent visa expiry must apply for out-of-country extensions—a process now complicated by reduced consular hours. MS Risk cautions that repatriation flights, such as the Government charter that arrived in Dublin on 7 March, could be delayed by last-minute routing changes.
