Global travel crisis: The key questions answered

Dubai International Airport closed on March 1 following an Iranian missile strike - Altaf Qadri/AP Photo

Hundreds of thousands of British citizens remain stranded in the Middle East following the outbreak of war in the region.

Over the weekend, major international airports – including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi’s main hubs – closed to traffic, with airspace remaining closed across much of the region.

Thousands of flights have now been cancelled in what is becoming the biggest global travel crisis since the Covid pandemic. Flight tracking website, FlightAware, reported 5,987 global flight cancellations over the weekend and at least another 2,000 on Monday.

Some of the airports that have closed in recent days, including Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are among the busiest transit airports in the world - Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Aside from those stranded in the Middle East, Britons due to travel in the coming days and weeks will be wondering whether their plans will proceed, and whether it is safe to travel. Fresh Foreign Office advisories against non-essential travel to Dubai, plus airlines cancelling flights to the tourist hot spot of Cyprus, will also have implications on upcoming holiday plans.

Here are some of the key considerations for travellers who are either currently in the Middle East or due to travel in the coming days, weeks or months.

I am in the Middle East right now – how and when am I going to get home?

Right now, hundreds of thousands of British citizens are stranded in the Middle East. Many will have seen their return flight cancelled, and will now be booked on to another flight in the coming days, wondering if it will take off at all.

Following the US-Israeli assault on Iran on Saturday morning – and Iran’s retaliatory action against US military bases, Israel and neighbouring Gulf states – the skies have been closed across much of the Middle East. With airspace closed in the UAE, Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and international airports shut, it has been impossible for airlines to repatriate passengers.

On Sunday, it emerged the UK Government was considering how to evacuate British citizens stuck in the region, with suggestions that Muscat and Riyadh could offer safe air routes out.

Things are now beginning to move at Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s main international airports. On Monday afternoon, more than a dozen Etihad flights departed from Abu Dhabi, including one to Heathrow. The airport updated its advice to say passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

There is movement at Dubai International Airport, too. Emirates said, “We will begin operating a limited number of flights from the evening of March 2. Priority is being given to passengers with earlier bookings.”

However, there are currently as many as 300,000 Britons hoping to fly home from the UAE, and many more citizens from other countries who will also soon be flocking to the international airports. The disruption will last well into this week, and passengers can do little more than keep in touch with their airline, keep on top of the latest updates from local authorities and hope the good news comes soon.

I am due to fly long-haul, transiting via the Middle East. Will my flight go ahead?

This depends on whether your transit hub airport is open for business or not. Some of the airports closed in recent days – Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai – are among the busiest transit airports in the world, so the impact of the Middle East crisis has had implications for global travel far beyond the Gulf.

Contact your airline for the latest information and keep abreast of the news and Foreign Office updates. If you have booked a package holiday with a tour operator, you will have strong consumer protections, and you will receive support and alternative travel options if things don’t go to plan.

I have a holiday booked to Cyprus – is this safe?

Cyprus, located in the eastern Mediterranean, has been dragged into the latest Middle East crisis.

At around midnight on Sunday, an Iranian drone hit RAF Akrotiri, just hours after Keir Starmer said the US could use British military bases for defensive action.

EasyJet and British Airways cancelled flights to Cyprus on Monday, March 2 in response. In total, more than 60 flights to and from Cyprus have been cancelled this week, and Paphos International Airport was temporarily evacuated on Monday after a “suspect object” was spotted by radars.

Paphos International Airport was evacuated on March 2 after a suspicious drone threat

No civilian sites in Cyprus have been targeted, and the Foreign Office does not warn against travelling to Cyprus, meaning your travel insurance will remain valid if you are due to travel there. This also means you won’t receive a refund or compensation if you choose to cancel an upcoming trip.

I am due to travel soon, but the Foreign Office now advises against travel to my destination. What are my options?

On Saturday evening, the Foreign Office updated its advice for the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait to warn against all non-essential travel. Many tourists will have a trip booked in the coming weeks or months and will be unsure what this means.

It all depends on the wording of your travel insurance policy. If you booked prior to the FCDO warnings and you have comprehensive cover, your insurer might allow you to claim back irrecoverable deposits and payments made on your flight and hotel. Some policies allow FCDO-related cancellation if the advice changed within 31 days of travel.

If your insurance fine print is not clear, give your provider a call. If you are not covered, it will be a case of contacting your airline and hotel to see if they can offer any flexibility, refunds or rebooking options. Additionally, if you paid with a credit card, you might be able to make a separate claim via your card issuer.

It is worth considering that the FCDO’s advice is fluid and regularly updated. In late 2025, the Foreign Office warned against all non-essential travel to Tanzania due to political upheaval in the country, but swiftly reversed that advisory when things settled down. It may be that the Middle East travel warnings are no longer in place by the time your trip comes around.

Are countries like the UAE and Qatar safe to visit?

The Foreign Office now advises against all non-essential travel to the UAE and Qatar. Since the weekend, they have advised, “Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in the UAE should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

Many tourists will understandably be shaken up by the images of a five-star hotel, the Fairmont in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, whose concourse was set ablaze due to missile debris, or the news that missiles struck the airports at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

A satellite image of Dubai after the Iranian missile strike - Planet Labs PBC via AP

While these countries will likely bounce back as transit destinations, it may take longer for them to recover their reputations as safe havens for expats, winter sun holidaymakers and honeymooners.

Have long-haul direct flights to Asia been affected?

Non-stop direct flights from Europe to Asia appear to be operating more or less as normal. However, pilots appear to be routing through what is known as the “northern corridor”, via the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan, which has become increasingly busy due to recent geopolitical events. This might make for longer flights.

Are Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia safe?

The popular resorts in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia have been unaffected by the geopolitical events in the Middle East. Unless things escalate in unexpected ways, this will remain the case. However, some tour operators including Intrepid have decided to cancel trips to Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia for the rest of March. Check with your tour operator or travel provider for the latest information.

What are my rights if my flight has been cancelled?

If your flight has been cancelled, and you are booked with a UK or EU airline, they must offer you either a full refund or a seat on the soonest available alternative service, even if it is with a rival carrier. If you opt for an alternative flight, it is your choice as to whether you take the next one or travel at a later date.

Your airline must also provide you with accommodation and meals. You will either be issued vouchers or expected to make your own arrangements and reclaim the money later. Given the scale of the disruption, it is likely you will have to do the latter.

If you have booked with a non-UK/EU airline, your rights will depend on what is written in the terms and conditions of your booking. If you have booked with a package holiday firm, speak to your tour operator.

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