Unrest in the Middle East this week has caused great confusion among many holidaymakers – but it’s still safe to visit most popular destinations.
The Foreign Office was swift to update its travel advice for the region – warning of potential travel disruptions – after America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear bunkers at the weekend, though it has held back from declaring mainstream tourist countries as no-go.
Holidays remain safe to south and southeastern Europe including countries such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta and Cyprus.
Travel is also given the green light by the Foreign Office to Turkey – and the same holds true for Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan in the Middle East.
British Airways and Singapore Airlines initially suspended all flights to Dubai, while BA has also suspended operations to Doha in Qatar, where airspace was briefly closed on Monday. However, BA has already resumed flights to Dubai and will do so to Qatar tomorrow.
The Association of British Travel Agents advises travellers to check the latest FCO advice and check with airlines for latest updates.
So how safe is your summer holiday destination?
SAFE
TURKEY
Travel to parts of Turkey close to the Syrian border are unsafe, but beach holidays on the Turquoise Coast in the southwest (flying into Dalaman airport), city breaks in Istanbul and trips to the captivating landscape of Cappadocia continue as usual.
However, the Foreign Office urges caution: ‘There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.’
CYPRUS
Since the US attack on Iran there has been no Foreign Office change to travel advice for Cyprus and holidays to its popular south coast resorts continue as normal. The UK has military bases in Cyprus – and its the closest point to Israel is 260 miles away. The Foreign Office says: ‘Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Cyprus, attacks cannot be ruled out.’
Beach holidays on the Turquoise Coast in the south west of Turkey and city breaks to Istanbul are unaffected by unrest in the Middle East
GREECE
Safe to travel – the Foreign Office advice for Greece has not changed since the US attack on Iran. Crete and islands in the Dodecanese are on the edge of Iran’s maximum missile range. However, the Foreign Office says it’s fine to go, with the biggest current risk to visitors being political protests in Athens related to events in Israel.
MALTA
Tourism continues as usual. The popular beach holiday destination, with many historical sights connected to the Knights of St John to visit in its capital, Valletta, remains firmly on the holiday map. The distance from Malta to Israel is 1,200 miles as the crow flies.
ITALY
Safe to visit – it’s about 1,200 miles from its southeastern tip to Israel. The Foreign Office has not changed its advice since the US attack in Iran. It’s main current warning regards crowds in Rome during the Holy Year: ‘The Jubilee, known as the Holy Year, will take place in Rome from December 24 2024 to January 6 2026. The city is expected to be very busy, particularly when the bigger events take place, including the Jubilee of Youth July 28 to August 3 2025.’
CROATIA
Flights continue as usual with beach holidays on its 1,000-mile coastline and city breaks proving extremely popular – more than 21.3million visitors in 2024 and the country’s population is a mere 3.8million. The Foreign Office says: ‘Crime levels are low and violent crime is rare.’
MOROCCO
Tourism continues as usual. The flight distance from Marrakesh to Tel Aviv in Israel is approximately 2,500miles. However, the Foreign Office, says: ‘Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region. You should: monitor local and international media for the latest information, be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities.’
The distance from Malta to Israel is 1,200 miles as the crow flies– meaning tourism continues as usual
TUNISIA
It’s around 1,500 miles from Tunis, Tunisia’s capital, to Tel Aviv in Israel. Tui, Easyjet Holidays and Thomas Cook are offering cheap summer beach trips, with the island of Djerba, mythical land of the Lotus-Eaters from Homer’s Odyssey proving popular this year.
All main tourist areas are safe, although the Foreign Office advises against visiting Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border due to cross-border terrorist activity.
BE CAUTIOUS
EGYPT
Holidays continue as usual – with Red Sea beach and diving holidays selling well. Nile cruises and city breaks in Cairo are also popular and it’s safe to go to the buzzing resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula. However, the Foreign Office warns against travel near the Libyan border and in the north of the Sinai Peninsula due to local terrorist threats.
SUEZ CANAL
Cruise companies began sailing longer routes via the southern tip of Africa in February after concerns about Iran-backed Houthi rebel attacks operating in Yemen by the Red Sea. However, Star Clipper operated a cruise through the red Sea as usual this week.
OMAN
Tourism is not immediately affected and it’s safe to go to its plush beach resorts including Six Senses Zighy Bay, but there’s a Foreign Office warning since the US attack on Iran of ‘short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights’.
QATAR
British Airways has suspended flights and is letting customers re-book to other destinations for free, but travel on Qatar Airways is still possible and the Foreign Office does not advise against going.
Egyptian holidays should continue as usual – however the Foreign Office is advising against all travel near the Libyan border and in the north of the Sinai Peninsula due to local terrorist threats
BAHRAIN
The island nation welcomed almost 15million tourists in 2024, according to government figures, with most coming from other Arab states. It’s not quite as glamorous as Dubai but its capital, Manama, is packed with skyscrapers while out in the desert are ancient ruins and an F1 track.
Holidays there are considered safe by the Foreign Office but it warns of potential travel disruption due to regional instability – and British Airways has paused flights until at least June 30 – it had begun flying three times a week from London Heathrow this summer.
DUBAI
Dubai is a huge holiday draw but saw cancellations over the weekend following the US bombing of Iran. American Airlines and United have dropped routes to the popular emirate, as have Singapore Airlines and Air Canada. British Airways have resumed flying to Dubai after a pause over the weekend – one of its aircraft, arriving from London, was just 90 minutes from landing but forced to turn around due to American strikes and diverted to Switzerland. The Government doesn’t advise against visiting the UAE but its travel advisory warns: ‘Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in the United Arab Emirates.’
SAUDI ARABIA
Growing tourism has seen the oil-rich Middle Eastern state open up of late and flights continue as usual. In fact, many of the rerouted flights are being sent over Saudi airspace. Regional warnings in light of the escalating conflict apply to the country but the Foreign Office says travel is safe – though it also warns against going to regions near its border with Yemen.
JORDAN
British Airways has suspended flights up to and including June 30, with similar pauses from Aegean Airlines, EgyptAir and Lufthansa Transavia (KLM’s budget arm). The diverse country is increasingly visited by Brits – authorities said that they’d seen a 20 per cent jump in arrivals from the UK this year compared to 2024.
The crisis has damaged cruise holidays in the Red Sea, with Jordan’s seaport, Aqaba, having only seen visits by Saudi’s AROYA Cruises in 2025; MSC Euribia is due to dock on 29 October on a Southampton to Dubai itinerary. The Foreign Office advises against travel to parts of Jordan near Syria, but it’s still possible to go to the ancient ‘Rose City’ of Petra.
American Airlines and United have dropped routes to Dubai, as have Singapore Airlines and Air Canada but British Airways have resumed flying there after a pause over the weekend
LEBANON
For years, Lebanon, and especially Beirut, was being touted as an up-and-coming alternative Med holiday spot (it’s less than 190 miles across the sea from Ayia Napa in Cyprus); unrest in the region has dampened these hopes somewhat. Large parts of Lebanon close to Israel and Syria are considered unsafe by the Foreign Office, but it’s safe elsewhere, with flights from London to Beirut on Middle East Airlines.
GEORGIA
The capital Tbilisi is an increasingly popular city break destination on the back of new BA flights that launched in March 2025, and elsewhere you can find UNESCO World Heritage sites and a thriving wine scene. It’s generally safe to visit – though the Foreign Office advises against going to South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
NO-GO
ISRAEL
The Foreign Office advises against all travel – meaning travel insurance will be invalidated. The Foreign Office says: ‘There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.’
IRAN
No-go for the foreseeable future – the Foreign office says: ‘British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.’
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Israel – meaning travel insurance will be invalidated
YEMEN
Absolute no-go. The Foreign Office ‘advises against all travel to Yemen… Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks. The threat is heightened where Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Islamic State-Yemen have tribal connections and in the governorates of Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt and Shabwah.’
UKRAINE
Popular city breaks in Kyiv, Lviv and the Black Sea resort of Odessa have not been possible since the conflict began in February 2020.
RUSSIA
The biggest country in the world (6.6million square miles) is off the tourist map for now.
