The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for 13 countries, including Turkey and Egypt, amid ‘regional tensions’ in the Middle East
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for 13 countries, including Turkey and Egypt, due to ‘regional tensions’ across the Middle East. ‘Do not travel’ warnings remain in force for various areas as the situation ‘remains deeply unpredictable’.
In the update issued on Tuesday, 27 October, under ‘regional tensions’, the FCDO warned: “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 Foreign Office went on to caution that British nationals planning to travel through the Middle East or who are currently 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 nations concerned ‘regional tensions’, it’s crucial to consult the FCDO directly for any additional warnings or advice for your chosen destination, as there may be additional or differing advice, and updates can be issued at extremely short notice. There are also critical ‘do not travel’ warnings in effect for various locations, alongside guidance ‘against all but essential travel’ to other areas, reports the Daily Star.
Currently, the Foreign Office has advised ‘against all travel to parts’ of the following nations: Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the FCDO has advised ‘against all travel’ to Iran, Yemen and Syria. It’s worth noting that some of these warnings were in place before the events in the Middle East and are unrelated to the tensions.
For example in Yemen, the FCDO states: “Since July 2026, the Houthis have launched air strikes against Saudi territory and Saudi shipping vessels in the Red Sea. There is an ongoing risk of further military escalation, including in Yemen and the Red Sea, which could occur at short notice.”
Full list of 13 countries with updated travel advice
- 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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- This article was updated to reflect that the Foreign Office’s advice ‘against all travel to parts’ of certain countries are not all linked to the events in the Middle East.