The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has revised its travel advice for 13 countries, including Turkey and Egypt, citing ‘regional tensions’ across the Middle East which ‘remains deeply unpredictable’.
In the update issued on Tuesday, 27 October, under ‘regional tensions’, the FCDO cautioned: “The context in the Middle East remains deeply unpredictable, and the risk of sudden escalation is high. Since conflict began in early 2026, Iran has stated its intention to target locations associated with the US and Israel, including, but not limited to, organisations, businesses, facilities, and institutions. There have been strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran and others across the region against civilian and US military infrastructure.”
The FCDO further stated that British nationals planning to travel through the Middle East, or those already in the region, “should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions”. They advised doing the following:
- Read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad – GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
- Sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
- Follow advice from the local authorities
- Monitor local and international media for the latest information, including updates relating to airports and airspace, which could close at short notice
- Stay away from areas around security or military facilities
- Keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date
- If advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection. The greatest risk is from falling debris caused by intercepts, and you are safest inside a secure structure. Do not approach or touch any drone or missile fragments or unusual objects.
While the most recent travel guidance for the 13 countries is centred on ‘regional tensions’, it is essential to check directly with the FCDO for any additional warnings or advice applicable to your destination, as there may be further or differing advice that can be updated at very short notice. There are also critical ‘do not travel’ warnings in place for numerous destinations, alongside advice ‘against all but essential travel’ for other locations.
As it stands, the Foreign Office has advised ‘against all travel to parts’ of the following countries – although it’s worth noting that not all of these are related to the events in the Middle East. The countries with some travel warnings in place include Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. In addition, the FCDO advised ‘against all travel’ to Iran, Yemen and Syria.
Full list of 13 countries with updated warnings
- Egypt
- Turkey
- Qatar
- Iran
- Israel
- Kuwait
- Palestine
- Bahrain
- Jordan
- Yemen
- Syria
- Pakistan
- Saudi Arabia
For more information, or to check travel advice for a specific country, visit the Foreign Office website.
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