Thousands of Britons stranded in the Middle East after the US-Iran war erupted in early 2026 are finally able to return home – or plan holidays – after the Foreign Office dropped its ‘do not travel’ advice for the United Arab Emirates. But the relief comes with a stark warning: the region remains unpredictable.
The decision, announced on 18 June, also lifts prohibitions on travel to Qatar and most of Saudi Arabia. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) published fresh guidance for 14 countries – Cyprus, Turkey, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Iran and Kuwait – amid what it called “regional tensions”.
“Foreign Office lifts UAE travel ban after US-Iran peace deal, but warns attacks could resume.”
“The US and Iran have announced a memorandum of understanding in relation to the conflict in the Middle East,” the FCDO said in its warnings and insurance pages. “The situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice.”
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, including businesses, ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities and airports. The foreign office note added: “Iran has previously targeted civilian infrastructure across the region.”
More than 1.4 million Britons visited Dubai last year, making it a major holiday and business hub. Lifting the ban means travellers will no longer risk invalidating their travel insurance. But airlines are proving slower to restart services. Virgin Atlantic suspended flights until winter 2027 after the war began, and a spokesperson said on Thursday this “remains the case”. British Airways suspended flights until October 2026. Emirates, the state-owned carrier, has still been operating flights to the region throughout the conflict.
The FCDO also outlined steps Brits should take if “hostilities resume”, though it no longer advises against all but essential travel to the UAE. For thousands stranded when the war broke out – many unable to fly home as airlines cancelled routes – the update offers a long-awaited path home, but the road back may still be blocked by carriers unwilling to return.