Brits travelling to Dubai over the summer may be feeling uncertainty since the latest escalation in the in the Middle East war between the US and Iran.
Monday marked the nineth consecutive day of US strikes on dozens of Iranian sites after tensions flared when both sides abandoned a short-term ceasefire agreement earlier this month.
The US and Iran have been in conflict since February when the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian targets. Iran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway and striking sites across the Middle East – including Dubai.
Three boys play in the shallow waters of the Strait of Hormuz, as a plume of smoke rises from an explosion in the background, off Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, July 13, 2026 -Credit:AP Photo/Razieh Poudat
Despite the escalations, the UK’s Foreign Office (FCDO) has not changed its advice for travel to the United Arab Emirates since it removed its “all but essential travel” advisory published on June 18.
Just one day earlier, the US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding to bring the war to a close within 60 days. This appears to have failed. This means that people can travel to the UAE without having their travel insurance invalidated.
What does this mean for Brits travelling to the UAE?
The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the UAE, but warns that “the situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice”. The warning stands as of Monday, 20 July.
British nationals should read the FCDO’s crisis abroad document, follow advice from local authorities and sign up to FCDO travel advice email alerts.
If conflict resumes, it advises travellers to stay away from areas around security or military facilities, keep departure plans and travel documents up to date and remain indoors if told to take shelter.
US Marines board Iranian-flagged ship in Gulf of Oman on July 16, 2026 -Credit:CENTCOM / SWNS
The FCDO no longer warns against non-essential travel to the UAE, so travel insurance is likely to be valid if booking a trip now. However, your travel insurance is at risk of being invalidated if you travel against advice from FCDO. It is important to check individual policies.
Package holidays are likely to start operating as usual and there are no grounds for travellers to expect a refund if they cancel, nor to claim the money back through travel insurance.
If FCDO advice changes to advising against all travel, you can cancel a package holiday without penalty for a full refund.