Citi: Bank Not Leaving Dubai, Calls Rumors False

Global banking giant Citigroup moved to calm speculation about its operations in the Gulf after a wave of online rumors claimed the bank’s offices in the Middle East had been damaged or shut down.

There have recently been a wave of speculations around Citi in Middle East

• Is Citibank shutting down in Dubai?
• Did something happen to Citi Bank in the UAE?
• Was Citi Bank attacked in Dubai?
• Is Citi leaving the Middle East?
• What happened to Citi offices in the UAE?
• Did Citi evacuate its Dubai offices?

In a statement published as a thread on its official account on X on March 14, 2026, the bank said reports of attacks or damage to its offices were false.

Source: Citi on Twitter | Citi Group Blog

The bank said its operations in the UAE and Bahrain continue, and that recent evacuations and temporary closures were precautionary safety measures taken for staff.

According to the thread, Citi said it had evacuated three buildings in the UAE and temporarily closed some branches while monitoring the regional situation. The company stressed that the decision was made to prioritize employee safety.

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In the thread, Citi made clear the following points:

• Reports claiming damage to Citi offices or branches in the Middle East are false.
• The bank evacuated three buildings in the UAE as a precaution.
• Some UAE branches were temporarily closed for safety reasons.
• All employees in the UAE and Bahrain are safe and accounted for.
• Citi continues to serve clients in both countries without interruption.
• The bank said it has robust contingency and resilience plans in place.
• Citi emphasized it is not leaving the Middle East.
• The company noted it has maintained a continuous presence in the region for more than six decades.

Note: Citi and Citibank refer to the same banking group, but they are used slightly differently.

• Citigroup (often branded simply as “Citi”) is the parent financial services company. It owns the entire global banking and financial business.
• Citibank is the main banking subsidiary of Citigroup that provides retail and corporate banking services.

In practice:

• “Citi” is the brand name used publicly (social media, marketing, announcements).
• “Citibank” is the legal banking entity operating branches and accounts.

So the X/Twitter thread from “Citi” is the official statement of the same organization that operates Citibank branches in the UAE and elsewhere.

The clarification appeared as a nine-post thread and linked readers to a detailed update on the bank’s website.

The bank also said its leadership remained confident in the resilience of regional economies and the ability of its teams to manage operations during periods of uncertainty.