Foreign Office issues Dubai holidays warning amid Middle East conflict

The UK’s Foreign Office has released a warning for British travellers intending to journey to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East. Dubai, a popular destination for Brits seeking sunshine, has now attracted attention due to the rising tensions in the Middle East. Many individuals may be questioning the safety of travelling to the region at present. The Foreign Office of the UK has now issued a significant caution just before Iran launched nearly 200 missiles towards Israel. While there is currently no travel ban for the UAE, British tourists are advised to remain vigilant as ‘the situation is evolving rapidly’. The current advice indicates that ‘Ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region’. Travellers are urged to monitor travel advice and other media closely as the situation is swiftly changing. The advice also recommends following and contacting FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as signing up for email notifications for updates on travel advice. Authorities have also highlighted a ‘high’ terrorism risk in the UAE, which could impact ‘UK interests and British nationals’. Tourist attractions like beaches, hotels, restaurants, and ‘crowded places’ are identified as potential targets, along with oil, military, and residential areas. The advice further warns that ‘Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals’. Travellers are advised to maintain a vigilant awareness of security, particularly in public spaces and at events. The UAE is not the only country on the Foreign Office’s travel warning list, with Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco also among those flagged. Various Brits are currently evacuating Lebanon amidst fears of a ‘regional war’ voiced by Sir Keir Starmer. This week, Iran’s attack was reported as ‘the largest ballistic missile barrage on a state in history’, in response to the ongoing violence in Palestine and the killings of senior Hamas, Hezbollah, and Revolutionary Guard figures. Health officials estimate that over 40,000 people have died in Gaza in the past 10 months. Foreign Office highlighted countries with travel alerts: Egypt, Bahrain, Algeria, UAE, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Lebanon.