HOLIDAYS to Dubai have been left in chaos following the Iran conflict, with thousands of flights cancelled after a number of drone attacks on the city in recent weeks.
So here is everything you need to know right now about travelling to the UAE city.
Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?
Dubai remains on the no travel list, unless it is essential.
The UK Foreign Office states: “FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”
While this isn’t outright ban against all travel, essential travel doesn’t usually mean holidays, but is instead things like work or essential family travel.
The UK government also warns: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.
“Stay away from areas around security or military facilities.”
The most recent incident in Dubai was a drone strike at the main Dubai International Airport on Saturday, which saw flights temporarily suspended, as well as a drone hitting 23 Marina Tower.
It isn’t clear when the UK Foreign Office will lift the current travel advice.
Are flights going to Dubai?
Airlines are starting to restart routes from Dubai.
Emirates said: “Following the partial re‑opening of regional airspace, Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule.
“Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.
“Please do not go to the airport unless you hold a confirmed booking for these flights.”
Virgin Atlantic briefly restarted flights from both Dubai to the UK.
However, a recent 16-hour ‘flight to nowhere’ which was forced to return to London Heathrow has led to the airline scrapping flights until the end of the season (March 28).
British Airways is also unable to operate flights to Dubai, and only has limited flights from Oman to London Heathrow.
Anyone flying with British Airways to Dubai up to March 15 can request a full refund, or change the flight date for free up to March 29.
Other areas in the Middle East such as Doha and Abu Dhabi are still being affected.
Qatar Airways is operating one flight a day to and from London Heathrow to Doha but warns that “scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace”.
Etihad is operating limited flights to London Heathrow and Manchester from Abu Dhabi, but also warns that “all other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended.”
What if I have a holiday to Dubai booked?
Most tour operators will allow Brits to cancel their holidays to Dubai for a full refund, or offer an alternative option, due to it being on the ‘only essential travel” list.
While this is not mandatory, many are cancelling holidays nonetheless.
Loveholidays is cancelling all holidays up to March 15 either to Dubai or ones that are travelling via Dubai.
They explained:”We’ve made the decision to cancel all holidays departing up to and including 15 March 2026 to countries currently on the FCDO ‘all but essential travel’ list
“This includes holidays with a connecting flight via one of these countries.
“Our team has begun processing full refunds for affected bookings in departure date order and will contact you directly with further information.”
Refunds will be processed in 3-5 working days.
They are also allowing anyone with Emirates flights up to March 31 to cancel their holidays for a full refund, while anyone flying to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic up until March 31 will have their holidays cancelled.
They are not selling any holidays to Dubai up until May, although June holidays remain unaffected.
TUI‘s latest Dubai update was on Friday, saying: “If you are due to travel to the UAE, or are scheduled to transit through, within the next seven days, our pre-travel team will contact you ahead of your departure date to discuss your options.”
On the Beach has cancelled all holidays to the UAE until tomorrow with full refunds although this is likely to be extended.
The Sun’s Head of Travel has answered all your other holiday questions.