Etihad Airways has reportedly ended the services of 15 Pakistani employees working at its Abu Dhabi hangar, according to sources cited by CNN-News18. The sudden action has caused concern among members of the expatriate community in the UAE.
In what appears to be a fast-moving and unexpected development, the affected employees were not processed through standard HR procedures. Instead, reports suggest they were directly taken to immigration authorities and issued formal orders to leave the country within 48 hours.
The group includes experienced staff, with at least one employee having served the airline for 18 years. The short departure timeline has left those impacted with little opportunity to complete personal, financial, or family-related arrangements, adding to the distress.
Etihad Airways has not released an official explanation regarding the reported terminations. While workforce restructuring is not uncommon in the aviation industry, the involvement of immigration authorities and immediate exit orders has raised questions about whether the decision goes beyond routine operational changes.
The development comes amid broader diplomatic undercurrents between the UAE and Pakistan, with some regional observers pointing to a possible tightening of administrative and policy measures affecting Pakistani nationals. However, no official link has been confirmed, and authorities have not publicly commented on any political dimension.
The situation continues to unfold, with further clarity expected once formal statements are issued.
