UK Government issues travel advice update for Middle East

echo-news.co.uk · Mar 2, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

Full Article

The UK Government has advised against travelling to 21 countries in the Middle East in a new travel update. Hostilities in the Middle East have escalated in recent days. The US and Israel are continuing to strike Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While retaliatory strikes from Iran have hit hotels, airports, and other sites in cities throughout the Gulf, which have previously marketed themselves as regional safe havens, including the likes of Dubai and Doha (Qatar). More than 200,000 British nationals, including military personnel, are thought to be at risk in the Gulf as these hostilities continue. UK Government travel advice for the Middle East The Government has issued new travel advice for those British nationals affected by the situation in the Middle East. — Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 1, 2026 The latest travel update affects 21 countries, including Iran, Qatar, the UAE, and Turkey: Do not travel The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) "advises against all travel" to the following countries: Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Egypt Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Pakistan Palestine Saudi Arabia Syria Turkey Yemen Meanwhile, "no travel is considered safe" to Oman or Turkmenistan. The FCDO advises British nationals in the city of Duqm and the surrounding areas to find shelter, while those visiting Salalah (or anywhere within 100km) should look to leave "as soon as possible". All but essential travel The FCDO "advises against all but essential travel" to the following countries: Bahrain Kuwait Lebanon Qatar United Arab Emirates For the latest travel advice, visit the Foreign Office website. Brits in the Middle East urged to register their presence The Foreign Office has mounted an unprecedented operation to support British nationals in the region following the recent attacks. Officials are understood to be working on plans for potential evacuation routes should airspace in the Gulf remain closed for an extended period. British nationals are currently being advised to stay where they are, follow the instructions of local authorities, while also monitoring the Foreign Office’s travel advice, which officials expect to change rapidly. Those in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, and the UAE have been urged to register their presence with the Foreign Office online. More than 94,000 people, mostly in the UAE, have already registered their presence.