Foreign Office drops 'do not travel' advice for UAE

The UK Foreign Office has dropped its advice against travelling to the United Arab Emirates, a move that will ease travel for many Britons. The decision comes after a US-Iran agreement to halt conflict in the region. However, the Foreign Office cautioned that "the situation remains unpredictable" and that "attacks could resume at short notice."

Thousands of British citizens were stranded in the Middle East when the conflict escalated, leading many airlines to suspend flights to major hubs like Dubai. While the lifting of the advisory means travelers will no longer risk invalidating their insurance, some carriers are slow to resume services. Virgin Atlantic has suspended flights until winter 2027, and British Airways until October 2026.

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The situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice.

Emirates, the state-owned airline, continued to operate flights during the conflict. The Foreign Office noted that the US and Iran had announced a memorandum of understanding regarding the Middle East conflict. It also warned that prior to an April 8 ceasefire, Iran had indicated intentions to target US and Israeli-linked locations in the Gulf, including civilian infrastructure.

The government also removed travel warnings for Qatar and most of Saudi Arabia. The UAE, particularly Dubai, is a popular destination for over 1.4 million Britons annually, serving as a major holiday and business hub.

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This remains the case.