The United Arab Emirates has ordered the shutdown of an Iranian state-linked hospital in Dubai, as tensions escalate between the Gulf nation and Iran.
The move comes amid worsening relations following a series of missile and drone attacks reportedly launched by Iran at Gulf states, including the UAE, after strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets beginning February 28.
Employees at the hospital said they were instructed to vacate the premises, with one staff member stating, “The government asked all of us to leave.” Another added that management attributed the decision to Iran’s attacks on the UAE.
The facility, operated by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, employs more than 700 people and is considered one of the oldest healthcare institutions in the UAE.
A UAE official confirmed that “certain institutions directly linked to the Iranian regime and IRGC will be closed under targeted measures” after being found to violate local laws.
“These measures are administrative in nature and will be implemented in an orderly manner to ensure continuity of essential services,” the official said.
Staff members reported that the closure decision was communicated during a meeting last Saturday, with security personnel later seen at the facility. Patients have since been transferred to other hospitals, and the hospital’s website has been taken down.
The crackdown extends beyond healthcare, with at least four Iranian schools in Dubai also shut down. The Iranian Club Dubai has likewise suspended its activities, citing “current circumstances.”
Authorities have also arrested several افراد linked to networks associated with Iran and Hezbollah over alleged attempts to infiltrate the UAE’s economy and threaten financial stability.
Despite long-standing cultural and economic ties between Iran and the UAE, the recent escalation has significantly strained relations, leaving many Iranian expatriates in Dubai uncertain about their future.
