Companies operating in West Asia are implementing support measures for their staff, including Indian expatriates, prioritising the safety and well-being of the employees amid the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran which has sparked security concerns in other parts of the region as well.
Such measures include offering extended leaves to employees where remote working is not possible.
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‘RELOCATION REQUESTS’
Companies are helping employees stranded in impacted areas reunite with their families and holding mental well-being drives within the organisations, said executives from Indian companies including Dabur and TeamLease Services and Gulf-based firms such as Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, TidyHire and House of Shipping.
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According to TeamLease Services’ internal estimates, the total workforce in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—is about 35 million, of which one-third are Indians.
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Indian companies with significant exposure to the UAE include Dabur, Marico, Britannia, Tata Consumer Products and Reliance Consumer Products. Dabur alone has about 500 employees across West Asia. 
Dabur has implemented flexible work arrangements, including work from home and a phased hybrid model for employees in the region. “All our teams across West Asia are safe, and our leadership remains in close contact with employees across the region. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are taking appropriate precautions in line with guidance from local authorities,” said Biplob Bakshi, chief human resources officer, Dabur India Limited.
“We depend heavily on our West Asia markets and a significant number of our Indian employees work in the Gulf,” a senior executive at a large consumer company said on condition of anonymity. “Many have asked to be relocated back to India, or want to shift to India with their families at least for three-six months. We are evaluating how best to take care of their requests.”
Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, a Dubai-based multidivisional conglomerate, has implemented measures like remote working for its employees, said its group chief human capital officer, Vamshi Patwari. The group has a total workforce of 5,000 across the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and India.
Besides remote and hybrid working, the group has introduced extended annual leave for employees without access to the remote working option. “The new hire onboarding and orientation continuity is in place, as part of which new employees joining the group during the transition period are fully onboarded through structured virtual orientation programmes,” Patwari said.
PERSONAL REASSURANCE
Dubai-based shipping consultancy and advisory firm House of Shipping has about 220 Indians among its workforce in the UAE. “Since this incident is one that we have never encountered in the UAE, irrespective of the nationality, we have been able to support our employees in literally picking up the phone and talking to them, assuring them of all necessary support, etc.,” said the company’s global chief human resources officer, Prasanth Edassari.
Like other companies, House of Shipping is also allowing employees to work from home, organising mental health and stress-related counselling sessions with experts, and holding individual counselling sessions. “For those employees who got stuck in India, we have allowed them to work from their home country until flights are available for their return,” Edassari said.
An executive heading an executive search firm in the UAE said that his company had switched to working from home, ever since war broke out last Saturday, and that it would take stock of the situation this weekend on whether to extend the remote working option.
“This is unprecedented. This is worse than Covid-19 as there is more potential for damage like human life risk, likelihood of huge upsurge on commodity pricing, supply chain impact. If this continues, then it could have a huge impact,” said the executive, who did not wish to be identified.
PAUSE ON TRAVEL
Along with enabling remote or hybrid work, companies operating in the region have paused all travel, according to Neeti Sharma, chief executive at TeamLease Digital. “Where work from home isn’t possible, they’re offering flexible leave and ensuring no one feels pressured during this time. HR teams are staying closely connected with all employees,” she said.
“Life and business continue — with awareness and care, not fear, in the UAE,” said Javeed Khan, co-founder and chief growth and people officer at artificial intelligence company TidyHire.
The company has extended mental health and counselling support generously, from employee hotlines and wellness check-ins to dedicated sessions for younger children of employees, Khan said, adding, “The Indian community in the GCC is incredibly resilient,” said Khan.
Companies are also providing logistical support including guidance on travel routes and options to those who might want to visit their families in neighbouring countries, said experts.
Early last year, Reliance Consumer Products, the fast-moving consumer goods arm of Reliance Industries, introduced its Campa soft drink brand in the UAE in partnership with food and beverage company Agthia Group. At that time, Reliance had said it would “invest in the UAE region for the long term and it sees great potential for accelerated growth in the region”.
In 2024-25, consumer goods company Marico earned 25% of its revenue from international business, including West Asia. Its Dubai office operates as a core regional base for the Gulf region with a significant employee base.
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