Nvidia, Amazon Close Dubai Offices as Google Employees Stranded Amid Escalating U.S.-Iran Conflict
A plume of smoke was observed rising from the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai following an Iranian strike on March 1, 2026. This incident has prompted major tech companies, including Nvidia, Amazon, and Alphabet, to take urgent measures to ensure the safety of their employees in the Middle East amid escalating tensions following recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
The airstrikes, which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have led to retaliatory actions from Iran, targeting U.S. and Israeli military bases across the Gulf. This conflict has severely disrupted civilian life, affecting internet access, flight routes, and energy shipments throughout the region.
Nvidia Closes Dubai Offices
Nvidia has temporarily closed its Dubai offices, with employees now working remotely. CEO Jensen Huang communicated this decision in an email to staff, stating that the company’s crisis management team is actively supporting affected employees and their families in the Middle East, which includes around 6,000 Nvidia employees based in Israel.
In 2019, Nvidia acquired Mellanox, an Israeli networking company, for approximately $7.13 billion, marking the largest deal in Nvidia’s history at that time. Israel now serves as Nvidia’s largest research and development hub outside the U.S. As of the latest updates, Huang confirmed that all Nvidia employees impacted by the conflict and their immediate families are safe.
“Nvidia has deep roots in the region,” Huang stated, emphasizing the company’s concern for the safety of its employees and their families.
State Department Urges Americans to Leave
The U.S. State Department issued a warning on Monday, advising Americans to “depart now” from countries across the Middle East due to “serious safety risks.” By Tuesday afternoon, the agency announced efforts to secure military aircraft and charter flights for evacuating Americans from the region amid the escalating instability.
The disruption to air travel has left dozens of Google employees stranded in Dubai following a recent sales conference. The company’s cloud unit had held its “Accelerate” sales kickoff in Dubai last week. A memo sent to some employees indicated that while most had evacuated, several remained stuck due to the ongoing conflict.
Since the U.S.-Israeli strikes, over 11,000 flights in the Middle East have been canceled, according to aviation data firm Cirium. Google has stated that the majority of affected employees are not U.S.-based but are local staff. The company has implemented security measures and advised employees to follow local authorities’ guidance.
“The situation in the Middle East is evolving rapidly, and we are monitoring it carefully,” a Google spokesperson said, reiterating the company’s focus on employee safety.
Tech Companies Adjust Operations
Dubai serves as a significant hub for Google’s cloud and sales operations in the Middle East and North Africa. Last year, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai’s Crown Prince, visited Google’s offices to explore the company’s AI initiatives. Tel Aviv, which has also been struck in recent attacks, is another major hub for Google, where the company is expanding into a new headquarters in the ToHa2 Tower.
Amazon, which has significantly increased its presence in the Middle East, is also adjusting its operations in light of the conflict. The company has instructed all corporate employees in the region to work remotely and adhere to local government guidelines.
“The safety of our employees and partners remains our top priority,” an Amazon spokesperson stated. Amazon operates corporate offices across several Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, and has a substantial data center footprint in the region.
Recently, two of Amazon’s data centers in the UAE were reportedly “directly struck” by drones, causing structural damage and power disruptions. The facilities remain offline, impacting some Amazon Web Services applications. AWS has advised customers to back up their data or consider migrating workloads to other regions, citing the unpredictable operating environment in the Middle East.
Social media company Snap has also instructed employees at its four Middle Eastern offices to work remotely until further notice. Staff members are being advised to follow local authorities’ recommendations regarding shelter-in-place orders and departure guidelines.
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Published on 2026-03-03 23:12:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk