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.
The latest travel advice information for British nationals in the Middle East: https://t.co/AB8rEGx5TQ This includes countries with updated travel advice and links to Register Your Presence. pic.twitter.com/RPBHw0mILU
— 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 (all but essential travel for some parts)
Egypt (all but essential travel for some parts)
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon (all but essential travel for some parts)
Pakistan (all but essential travel for some parts)
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
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.