Arakanese migrants in Middle East on high alert amid escalating Iran conflict

By Admin 05 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

5 March 2026, Kyauktaw

Arakanese migrants working in the Middle East say they are on high alert as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran escalates and affects neighboring countries.

The ongoing hostilities have impacted life in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, forcing Myanmar nationals residing in these countries to navigate growing uncertainty amid regional instability.

An Arakanese youth working in Abu Dhabi, UAE, described the situation: “The UAE government intercepts numerous missiles launched from Iran every day. This results in loud explosions in the sky and blasts in some areas. While the situation is not immediately life-threatening for us, we remain in a state of high alert. The UAE government provides real-time updates, which helps reduce our anxiety.”

In Israel, one of the main parties to the conflict, many people continue working, though residents must take shelter in bunkers whenever air raid sirens sound.

“Some people go to work as usual, while others stay home because workplaces are closed. But whenever the warning system goes off, we must immediately go into the bunkers,” said an Arakanese woman currently living in Israel.

The Arakanese man in the UAE also urged fellow migrants to strictly follow local regulations, noting that information can be tightly controlled.

“The UAE is similar to Myanmar in how quickly it can restrict information. Official reports are not always 100 percent accurate, and the situation on the ground can sometimes be unclear. Currently, anyone caught spreading war-related news can face fines of up to 200,000 AED. I urge all Myanmar nationals to remain vigilant and strictly follow government directives and local laws,” he said.

The conflict intensified on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched long-range missile strikes against Iran, triggering a series of retaliatory attacks that continue.

Young people who fled Myanmar’s armed conflict to seek work abroad say they are distressed to once again face the consequences of war, this time in the Middle East.