Iran war disrupts Chinese tech firms’ Middle East operations

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, and was carrying out testing in the country’s commercial hub Dubai, halted operations and testing on Sunday in coordination with local authorities’ requirements, per local media reports including National Business Daily.The company said it was “closely monitoring the evolving situation in the region” in a response on Monday to questions from the South China Morning Post, adding that the safety of its staff and the community remained its top priority.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.Its Dubai fleet had been suspended since the weekend “pending notice from local regulatory authorities”, the company said, while operations in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh continued.