FCDO issues new travel warnings for Middle East, including UAE and Qatar
FCDO issues new travel warnings for Middle East, including UAE and Qatar
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has updated travel advice for the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, warning that the Middle East security situation remains ‘unpredictable’ following renewed attacks in the region.
The update comes as tensions escalated overnight, with the US and Iran exchanging fire after Washington launched a third consecutive night of strikes. Iran responded with missile attacks on a US military base in Bahrain, and strikes on Jordan, which hosts US forces, as reported by Sky News.
The US and Iran agreed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in mid-June, after months of conflict. The MOU has now effectively collapsed, as strikes from both sides continue.
The escalation follows warnings from US President Donald Trump that Iran would be ‘hit hard’, signalling the potential for further attacks.
The FCDO warning also covers Saudi Arabia, after the Houthis – a military group in Yemen – publicly threatened to target Saudi infrastructure. The group has previously carried out attacks on Saudi facilities, including airports.
The Foreign Office is advising British nationals in the region to monitor media for updates, follow instructions from local authorities, sign up for FCDO alerts and avoid areas around security or military facilities.
The advice warns that Iran has previously targeted civilian infrastructure across the region, including airports, ports, hotels, roads, bridges and energy facilities.
It states: “Before the 8 April ceasefire, the Iranian regime had stated its intention to target locations in the Gulf associated with the United States and Israel. This included US or Israeli-linked organisations, businesses, facilities and institutions.”
The move follows updated advice for Bahrain and Kuwait, where the Foreign Office warned last week of the risk of further attacks.