Tensions in the Middle East have entered their fifth day and the United Arab Emirates is slowly returning to normal. After a two-day pause, stock markets will reopen and offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are preparing for the return of staff in person. The UAE Capital Market Authority previously confirmed that trading and settlements on the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and Dubai Financial Market will resume on Wednesday. Despite the gradual reopening, market participants remain cautious, and the threat of further Iranian attacks continues to haunt the region. Analysts warned that while immediate disruptions may be limited, current geopolitical tensions could dent investor confidence in the near term.“Reopening of markets and offices is a critical step in stabilizing confidence,” a senior finance official told ET, adding that “uncertainty remains a major factor for local and international investors.”In the last trading session on Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s TASI (Tadawul) had plunged around 4.8%, hitting a 35-month low before regaining some ground. The Qatar Stock Exchange index also fell more than 4% when trading resumed on Monday morning.The Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), which is home to 8,844 active companies, including 102 hedge funds, will resume in-person operations from Wednesday. Retail and food establishments within the center are expected to be fully operational. “Commercial and corporate entities and other offices must continue to follow their internal protocols and business continuity plans,” the DIFC Authority said on Tuesday evening.Earlier outages caused by damage to an Amazon Web Services data center in the United Arab Emirates and another facility in Bahrain affected certain banking and delivery services on Monday, although services were restored on Tuesday.Like merchants, travelers are also beginning to return to their normal schedules. At a press conference on Tuesday, the government announced that domestic airlines will add 80 additional flights daily in the next phase, providing capacity for 27,000 passengers. The Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, highlighted that since March 1, a total of 60 flights with 17,498 passengers have already departed.Authorities have also established a safe air corridor in coordination with countries in the region, capable of handling up to 48 flights per hour, the minister said.Recently, the Kingdom’s President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with the Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, were seen dining at a restaurant in the Dubai Mall on Monday night, a move that helped project confidence to residents and investors.After Iran announced a ban on exports of all food and agricultural products, Al Marri assured that the United Arab Emirates has adequate reserves. He stated that reserves of essential goods and key commodities are sufficient for four to six months.The United Arab Emirates imports around 80% of its food supplies, with Iran being a major supplier. Authorities are closely monitoring markets to prevent unjustified price increases, and residents have been urged not to panic or hoard supplies.