FCDO eases guidance on travel to Gulf region

The Foreign Office has relaxed its guidance for travel to the Gulf destinations including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

The FCDO no longer advises against all-but-essential travel to the region in a move which will come as significant relief to the trade.

The move for the UAE and Qatar was confirmed on Thursday (June 18) and also covers other destinations in the region including Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Despite the relaxation, the FCDO reiterated the situation in the region remains “unpredictable” and attacks between the US and Iran “could resume at short notice”.

Advice against non-essential travel had been in place since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes against US allies in the region.

The continuation of the guidance had been criticised by many in the trade, with tour operators particularly impacted under the Package Travel Regulations and some customers signing waivers to transit through the region.

More to follow.