British tourists planning trips to destinations such as Dubai, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey are being advised to review their travel plans.
Latest Foreign Office travel rules for Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Dubai(Image: Getty)
Easter is coming up, and many Brits would normally be preparing to travel somewhere warm to avoid the unpredictable weather. This year, though, some are more hesitant because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has made travel across the Middle East more difficult. Closed airspace has led to cancelled flights, rerouting, and delays.
British tourists planning trips to destinations such as Dubai, Cyprus, Greece, and Turkey are being advised to review their travel plans. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) is updating its advice because of the conflict.
The Foreign Office currently warns against travel to the UAE and urges those already in locations including Dubai, Bahrain, and Kuwait to take shelter.
Due to the ongoing conflict and safety concerns, fewer people are booking holidays to the UAE, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. Many travellers are hesitant to visit places they see as risky or possibly affected by the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Right now, British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai until at least the end of May, which is causing problems for people planning to travel over Easter.
Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have also reduced their flights from their main airports to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
If your flight is cancelled, your airline will notify you. Brits can also check the Foreign Office’s travel advice for each country, which is updated regularly. Some places are now considered unsafe for British travellers.
If you have an Easter holiday booked and want the latest FCDO travel advice, here’s what you should know. This information is current now, but travellers should watch for updates in the next few days.
For more travel updates, you can also follow our senior travel reporter, Portia Jones on TikTok.
Greece
Easter is coming up, and many Brits would normally be preparing to travel somewhere warm to avoid the unpredictable weather.(Image: Getty Images)
If you’re travelling to Greece, either the mainland or the islands, there are currently no travel warnings. However, officials are still monitoring the situation, so it’s a good idea to stay up to date with the latest advice.
The Foreign Office advises: “If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.”
What’s important for travellers to know is that Greece is part of the Schengen area, so your UK passport must be less than 10 years old when you enter and still be valid for at least 3 months after you leave.
If you’re travelling to Greece over Easter, you might face longer waits at airports. From April 10, the new Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin at Schengen Area airports. Visitors from the UK, US, Canada, and other non-EU countries will need to have their fingerprints and facial image recorded the first time they use it.
Turkey
Turkey is a popular holiday destination for Brits (Image: Getty Images)
There are no travel warnings for most of Turkey from the UK Government. However, the FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Syrian border because of fighting and a higher risk of terrorism.
Since there are no wider travel warnings, travellers can’t cancel their trips for a refund. It’s best to wait to see if your airline or travel provider cancels, so you can reschedule or get your money back.
The latest FCDO update says that rising tensions in the region bring serious security risks and have already caused travel disruption.
The FCDO advises British nationals to follow local authority advice, avoid security or military areas, keep their departure plans flexible, and make sure their travel documents are up to date.
According to FlightRadar, most flights to Turkey’s main airports, including Istanbul, Antalya, and Ankara, are still operating as planned, but delays are possible.
Cyprus
The FCDO warns of a “heightened risk of regional tension” and possible escalation. (Image: AP)
The FCDO has updated its guidance for UK travellers to Cyprus after a suspected drone strike on a British base there.
There is no advice against travel to Cyprus right now, but the FCDO warns of a “heightened risk of regional tension” and possible escalation. This could cause travel disruption and “other unanticipated impacts”.
British nationals are encouraged to follow all official guidance and sign up for FCDO Travel Advice email alerts to get the latest updates.
Even though there is no general do-not-travel warning from the FCDO, fewer people are booking trips to Cyprus right now.
The travel company On The Beach said that, although it has limited business in Middle Eastern countries, it has seen a “significant slowdown in demand following the onset of conflict in the region”. This slowdown is especially affecting places like Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, and Egypt.
Airlines are still changing routes and schedules because of ongoing instability in the region. Some, like easyJet and Tui, have suspended or postponed flights since the conflict began. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter
The UAE and Dubai
View from the promenade and tram monorail in The Palm Jumeirah island (Image: Getty)
Because of the ongoing conflict, the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates. If you travel against this advice, your travel insurance might not be valid.
The current advice is that regional escalation poses “significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.”
The FCDO advises travellers to “Stay away from areas around security or military facilities and US or Israeli facilities and institutions.
It also advised that Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region such as ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, financial institutions, oil production sites, water systems, and airports.
Follow instructions from local authorities and keep an eye on local and international news for the latest updates.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has also updated its ‘register your presence’ advice for the UAE. These changes began on Tuesday, March 17, and remain in effect as of 24 March 2026.
“Register your presence” is an emergency service from the FCDO. It lets British nationals in unstable areas inform the government of their location.
This service helps the Foreign Office send direct updates about safety, travel advice, and possible evacuations, especially during major crises.
British nationals should only use the official GOV.UK website to register, usually by clicking the “Register your presence” link for their country.
The latest FCDO update has changed the register your presence advice for the UAE. It now says: “With commercial flights resuming to the UK from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we are pausing our ‘register your interest in flights from UAE’ scheme.
If you are still in the UAE and need to return to the UK, check with commercial airlines for available flights. You can still register your presence in the UAE for further updates.
