Concerns about staff/student safety and employment practices during regional conflict at NYU Abu Dhabi (with documentation)

On February 28, missiles and drones were launched toward the UAE, and residents—including those in Abu Dhabi—were told to shelter in place.

Less than 24 hours later, staff at New York University Abu Dhabi were informed that work would continue remotely—except for those suddenly labeled as “essential.”

But “essential” in this context did not mean police, military, fire safety emergency responders, healthcare workers, or public safety personnel.

It meant university admin staff.

Staff in student-facing roles—people with no emergency or crisis-response training—were expected to report in person during an active regional security threat.

From what I have directly experienced and observed:

• Staff were required to remain physically present despite ongoing drone strikes, missiles or other safety risks
• Students were moved to hotels after a missile strike occurred within close proximity (approximately 5 km) of the NYU AD campus
• Untrained staff were placed on extended on-call rotations (reportedly up to 72 hours at a time) to supervise students, run groups or other student life activities
• For weeks, staff that left the UAE for safety were warned that failure to return to the UAE and perform assigned duties at the hotels could result in termination
• At least two individuals who prioritized their safety, left the country, and continued working remotely were subsequently placed on permanent vacation status

This is not a hypothetical situation.

I have access to emails, internal communications, and recordings and videos that document what occurred.

The question is simple:

Why were university admin staff put in a position where they had to choose between their safety and their livelihood?

And who decided that these roles—without training, without preparation—were “essential” during a potential conflict scenario?

I am sharing this because people deserve to know how situations like this are handled behind closed doors.

If you are considering working for or attending NYU Abu Dhabi, this is something you should be aware of.

If you are a journalist or have relevant expertise, I am open to being contacted and can provide further context and documentation.