The UK Foreign Office has lifted its travel warning against the United Arab Emirates, meaning holidaymakers can now visit Dubai once again. The government body no longer advises against all but essential travel to the UAE, a restriction that was imposed in March following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks on several Middle Eastern neighbors.
Memorandum of Understanding Announced
Announcing the travel advice update, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) stated: "The US and Iran have announced a memorandum of understanding in relation to the conflict in the Middle East." However, the FCDO cautioned that "the situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice."
Impact on Dubai and the UAE
Dubai and the UAE were directly affected by the conflict in March. Several drones and missiles, suspected to have been launched from Iran, struck Dubai and wider UAE territory. On one occasion, all flights to and from Dubai International Airport were suspended after a drone attack hit a fuel tank, sparking a large fire. No injuries were reported.
Airlines Respond
Despite the lifting of the travel ban, some airlines are maintaining their suspension of flights to Dubai. British Airways, which halted flights to the UAE after the conflict in Iran broke out in late February, had planned to resume services from June 1 but has now postponed resumption until after summer, with October 25 as the new target. The airline stated: "We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options. Since the disruption began, we’ve helped thousands of customers return home, operated relief flights, and added additional capacity on key long‑haul routes. We will continue to assess and introduce further flying where possible."
Emirates is understood to be continuing its flights between the UK and the UAE.
Advice for British Nationals
The FCDO also dropped its travel warnings against Qatar. However, the new updates advise British nationals to follow local authorities' advice, monitor local and international media for the latest information, stay away from areas around security or military facilities, keep departure plans under review, and ensure travel documents are up to date. If advised to take shelter, they should stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter.
Dubai remains a popular destination for Brits, with 1.4 million UK nationals visiting the city last year. The travel ban and flight disruptions have impacted the number of Western tourists to the city over the spring.
