Iran war disrupts Chinese tech firms’ Middle East operations

South China Morning Post · Mar 2, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Chinese technology companies that have rapidly expanded across the Middle East face a sudden test amid Iran’s response to the US-Israel attack, as mounting hostilities disrupt their operations.Several firms that accelerated investment in the region over the past year have temporarily suspended services, shifted staff to remote work and reviewed contingency plans as security risks mount in the short term.Baidu, which began operating its Apollo robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in January, briefly halted operations on Sunday in coordination with local authorities’ requirements.The company said its commercial autonomous driving services in Abu Dhabi had since resumed, while its robotaxi testing programme in Dubai, the UAE’s major economic hub, was temporarily suspended.“The company has made proper arrangements for its local team and is making every effort to ensure employee safety and stability,” Baidu said on Monday in response to questions from the South China Morning Post, adding that it would “resume affected operations in accordance with official guidance”.WeRide, a Guangzhou-based autonomous driving start-up, runs robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, employing nearly 100 people across the region.