The UK’s Foreign Office has issued a warning for Brits planning to travel to Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. Dubai, a favoured destination for Brits seeking sun, has come under the spotlight as Middle East tensions rise. Many will be asking if it is still possible to travel there safely. Now the Foreign Office of the UK has sounded a serious warning.
The warning comes just before Iran’s firing of close to 200 missiles towards Israel. While there is no current travel ban for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), British holidaymakers are advised to stay vigilant as ‘the situation is changing fast’. The advice states, “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 outlets as the situation unfolds.
Furthermore, authorities have highlighted a ‘high’ risk of terrorism in the UAE, which may affect ‘UK interests and British nationals’. Tourist attractions such as beaches, hotels, eateries, and ‘crowded places’ are identified as possible targets, along with oil, military, and residential areas. The advice stresses, “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals.” Travellers are reminded to maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places and at public events.
The UAE isn’t the only country on the Foreign Office’s travel warning list, with Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco also among those flagged. Countless Brits are now evacuating Lebanon amid fears over a ‘regional war’. Iran’s recent attack was reportedly ‘the largest ballistic missile barrage on a state in history’, as a response to the ongoing bloodshed in Palestine. Health officials estimate that over 40,000 people have died in Gaza in the past 10 months.
A full list of Foreign Office travel alerts includes countries like Egypt, Bahrain, Algeria, UAE, Tunisia, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Lebanon. Travellers are urged to stay informed and exercise caution while planning their trips to these countries during these challenging times.