Is it now safe to travel to the Middle East? What to know as UK downgrades advisories

The UK foreign office has downgraded its travel advisory for some Middle Eastern countries following a memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran. The new advice makes it easier for British holidaymakers to travel to destinations like Dubai and Doha. However, other European governments have not yet changed their guidelines, so citizens should make sure they are aware of what is current in their country as “all but essential travel” advisories can invalidate travel insurance. Despite the move towards ending the war in the Middle East, airlines are not rushing to resume flights to the region. Most are sticking to their previously announced dates for service resumption. You can find a comprehensive list here. UK relaxes travel advice for the Middle EastThe British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) no longer advises against all but essential travel to the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, as well as to the Eastern Province and Riyadh Province in Saudi Arabia.This follows an earlier update to the advisory for Jordan, where it only advises against all travel to within 3km of the border with Syria. All travel to Iran, Syria and Yemen is still advised against. Despite easing the guidelines, the FCDO still urges caution. “The situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice,” it writes in a statement. Should hostilities resume, British nationals should read the document “If you’re affected by a crisis abroad”, and follow advice from the local authorities. The FCDO also advises that travellers monitor local and international media for the latest information, stay away from areas around security or military facilities, keep departure plans under review, and ensure travel documents are up to date. European governments maintain travel warnings for the Middle EastTravellers based in other European countries should check their own government advisories, as many have not been updated. For example, Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) still has “avoid non-essential travel” warnings for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, as well as “do not travel” advisories for Iran, Israel and Lebanon. Germany’s Foreign Office continues to “strongly discourage” travel to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Bahrain. “The security situation in the region remains highly volatile; a further escalation of the security situation in the region, including significant restrictions on air traffic, cannot be ruled out,” it writes for most of the countries.France’s authorities still advise against travelling to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, “except for compelling reasons”.   Travellers should remember that going ahead with a trip to a region where their home country's foreign office advises against visiting can invalidate travel insurance.