Brits planning trips to popular destinations such as Cyprus, Turkey, and the Maldives are being urged to review their plans as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) updates its travel advice in light of the ongoing Middle East conflict. The conflict has prompted airspace closures, flight cancellations, and warnings of heightened risks for travellers.

“Even countries not directly involved in the conflict are experiencing travel disruptions,” the FCDO said, advising Britons to monitor airline updates, check insurance coverage, and register with the FCDO before travelling. UK nationals have already been evacuated from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and other affected areas, with the Government arranging charter flights to bring citizens home safely.

• Afghanistan: Complete avoidance of travel is advised.
• Iran: British nationals are urged to reconsider their presence in Iran due to serious risks.
• Iraq: All travel to Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region is considered unsafe.
• Israel and Palestine: Travel is fully restricted.
• Syria: Travel to Syria is strongly discouraged.
• Yemen: All travel is advised against.

• Some destinations are only considered safe for essential travel, often due to border tensions, conflict zones, or other security risks:

Middle East

• Bahrain: Travel only for essential reasons.
• Kuwait: Travel only for essential reasons.
• Qatar: Travel only for essential reasons.
• Oman: British nationals in Duqm are advised to shelter in place; visitors in Salalah and surrounding areas should leave if possible.
• Saudi Arabia: Avoid areas near the Yemen border; exercise caution in Riyadh and the Eastern Province.
• Jordan: Avoid areas near the Syria border; other areas only for essential travel.
• United Arab Emirates including Dubai: Travel only for essential reasons.

North Africa

• Egypt: Avoid North Sinai and the Egypt-Libya border. Northern South Sinai and parts of Ismailiyah and Western Desert are restricted to essential travel only.

South and Central Asia

• Pakistan: Avoid areas near Afghanistan, the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and districts in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Northern Sindh and parts of Punjab are only for essential travel.

Caucasus

• Armenia: Avoid areas along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and the M16/H26 road between Ijevan and Noyemberyan.
• Azerbaijan: Travel near the Armenia border is restricted; southwestern regions affected by recent conflict are for essential travel only.
• Georgia: Avoid Russian-occupied regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; areas immediately next to these boundaries are only for essential travel.
• Lebanon: Certain areas of Beirut and southern suburbs are off-limits.

Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings

Even destinations often seen as safe for holidaymakers are affected by global travel disruption linked to the Middle East conflict:

• Cyprus: Travel is still possible, but the FCDO warns that terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out, including in areas frequented by foreign nationals.
• Turkey: Travel near the Syria border is strongly discouraged; other areas are for essential travel only.
• Maldives: Travel disruption is widespread due to airspace closures; visitors are advised to check with airlines, monitor news, and review insurance coverage.
• Sri Lanka: While not directly involved, flights are disrupted due to Middle East escalation; travellers should verify schedules and insurance.

The travel updates come as the Middle East has entered another day of conflict.

A second Government charter flight carrying British citizens from Oman landed at Gatwick Airport at 12.30am on Saturday as efforts to help people trapped in the war zone continue.

The Titan Airways flight departed from Muscat International Airport at 5.30pm before a short layover in Cairo, Egypt, reports My London.

The latest arrivals join around 6,500 Britons who have returned from the United Arab Emirates since widespread conflict began.

Dubai International Airport said in a post on X that operations had partially resumed after the suspension, but urged people not to travel to the airport unless they had been contacted by their airline confirming the flight.

Starmer said the UK is “working round the clock to keep British citizens safe” and acknowledged that Britons at home are “worried sick” for friends and family.

“Staff are on the ground to support those in need, government-provided flights are helping people get home, and our tireless armed forces are flying across the region to defend our allies and our interests,” he said.

Earlier, he spoke to Trump on the phone about the countries’ military co-operation in the region, in what appeared to be a positive signal, a day after the US president lashed out at him in a social media post and suggested the UK’s help was too late.

Mr Trump has repeatedly hit out at Starmer’s decision not to grant permission for the first wave of military action against Iran.

The Prime Minister later granted permission for “defensive” US action against Iranian missile sites from UK bases, and four American bombers landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and the US started using British bases for “specific defensive operations”.

After reports the UK was preparing the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier to go to the Middle East, Mr Trump said “we don’t need them any longer” and that “we don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”.

No decisions have yet been taken to deploy the warship.

Starmer has sought to play down the rift with the US, saying earlier this week that the special relationship is “in operation right now” as the two countries share intelligence and work together amid the Middle East conflict.

Since March 1, over 32,000 British nationals have now left the region, which includes the Gulf countries as well as Israel and Lebanon, by air.