Brits attempting to visit the United Arab Emirates have been warned by the Foreign Office this might not be the right time to visit. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) stated on August 8 that “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)”. It also warned travellers to monitor local and international media, check for transport disruption and follow the instructions of local authorities, especially following hostilities in the region.
The department said: “There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets.” It added “terrorists continued to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region”, of which the UAE is a part, including “references to attacks on western interests, including against UK citizens”.
Meanwhile, UAE’s largest city Dubai remains to be a popular holiday destination. In 2024, Dubai welcomed 1,327,000 UK visitors, a 14% year-on-year increase, according to data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Internationally, Dubai had 18.72 million overnight visitors in 2024, a 9% increase from 2023.
The department added: “Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, including against UK citizens.”
The potential targets may include:
- Residential compounds
- Transport
- Crowded places
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Beaches
- Shopping centres
- Places of worshipIsrael
The Canadian Government have also warned travellers should “exercise a high degree of caution in the United Arab Emirates due to ongoing tensions in the region and the threat of terrorism”.
Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) has also sharpened its travel warnings for Israelis visiting and staying in the United Arab Emirates, citing a heightened risk of terrorist organisations carrying out attacks in the Gulf State. Israel said these organisations were motivated to exact revenge on it due to its recent military campaigns against Iran and in Gaza.
The warnings come as Israel is facing mounting international pressure over Gaza’s ongoing starvation crisis, caused by the Israeli military’s blockade on aid entering the Palestinian enclave.
