Missile lands five miles from campus during a shelter-in-place order

Date: March 10, 2026 To: The NYU Community From: President Linda G. Mills and Provost Gigi Dopico Dear Members of the NYU Community, We would like to share the most recent information about the situation at our NYU Abu Dhabi campus. We know our students and colleagues there—and indeed, everyone in harm’s way—have been at the forefront of our minds over these past 10 days. Many of us have studied, taught or traveled to NYU Abu Dhabi—it’s a special part of the NYU family, and we are grateful everyone there remains safe. The United Arab Emirates government has been exemplary in managing the security of the country under unprecedented circumstances. Our teams in Abu Dhabi and New York have been in constant contact with our government partners to ensure our community’s well-being. The NYU Abu Dhabi campus remains open. Its research and scholarship mission is continuing every day, even amid these events. We want to recognize our Abu Dhabi colleagues who have gone above and beyond to sustain our learning community, as well as the grace and resilience of all our students, faculty, and staff. Right now, under guidance from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, higher education institutions in the country are on an extended two-week spring break. We had already transitioned to remote instruction and will continue to ensure that even those who have departed from the UAE are able to continue their studies should their return be delayed. Out of an abundance of caution, we took the additional step of moving our students and faculty residing on campus to other accommodations in the area. We knew we could make this transition smoothly now, while our students and faculty were on break. This is a temporary measure, and we look forward to resuming our campus’s full residential life at the earliest possible moment. We are also assisting any member of our community not required to be on campus during this extended spring break and who wishes to return home to make travel arrangements. Just as New York City becomes home to so many who come through the New York campus, Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE have become home to our students and colleagues. We value that connection, and we are committed to helping everyone return to NYU Abu Dhabi as soon as the time is right. It’s important in moments like these to take a step back and recognize the extraordinary work of our colleagues. When hostilities began 10 days ago, we had nearly 300 high school students (a little over half of them from outside of the UAE) visiting the NYU Abu Dhabi campus for a Candidate Weekend, when prospective students have the opportunity to meet with current students and faculty, tour the campus and its surroundings, and participate in interviews with the admissions team. When the candidates’ flights were cancelled, our team sprang into action. Staff and counselors stayed close, keeping students and their families informed and organizing activities to bring everyone together. Amid all the challenges facing air travel in the region, our teams in both Abu Dhabi and New York helped to arrange a mix of individual tickets and coordinated group flights to get the candidates home. As of today, nearly all have returned to their families, and we hope to have our last candidate and counselor home shortly. It has meant a great deal to our Abu Dhabi community to know that our entire global NYU family has been pulling together to support them, in ways big and small. We remain extraordinarily grateful to the UAE and its ability to manage this incredibly complex situation. We set out nearly two decades ago to found a vibrant global institution in the UAE that would attract students and scholars from all over the world. That mission has never been more urgent than it is right now. Our NYU Abu Dhabi community is strong, and over the past 10 days it has shown us all how resilient it is. We’ll close by recognizing that even though many of us are thousands of miles from these events, every one of us is touched by what’s happening. Take care of yourselves and each other. If you aren’t sure where to go for support, please contact the confidential Wellness Exchange Hotline or the Office of the Dean of Students. Faculty, staff, and administrators can access support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP); for immediate support, please call the EAP at 833-718-0305. We will share important updates as we have them. Sincerely, Linda G. Mills President Gigi Dopico Provost