The UK Foreign Office drops advice against travel to Dubai

Quick facts: The UK Foreign Office drops advice against travel to Dubai

• The UK Foreign Office has lifted its "do not travel" warning for Dubai and the UAE, following a US-Iran peace agreement.

• Your travel insurance is valid again for UAE trips, a major change from the past few months. Check your policy.

• Flights are limited: Emirates is operating, but British Airways won't return until October 2026 and Virgin Atlantic until winter 2027.

• The FCDO still urges caution, the situation is "unpredictable" and could change at short notice.

• Qatar and most of Saudi Arabia have also had their travel warnings lifted.

• Deals are available now — industry experts say prices are competitive and won't stay that way for long.

Why this matters for your holiday insurance

While the conflict was active and the FCDO had a "do not travel" warning in place, most standard travel insurance policies were effectively void for anyone heading to the UAE, making it a huge risk to visit.

With the warning now lifted, travel insurance should be valid again for UAE trips. Always double-check your specific policy first.

Is Dubai safe to visit right now?

Cautiously, yes. The updated advice includes this note:

"The situation remains unpredictable and attacks could resume at short notice."

They've also flagged that before the ceasefire on 8 April, Iran had stated intentions to target locations in the Gulf associated with the US and Israel — including businesses, hotels, and infrastructure like airports and ports.

The short version: the formal warning is gone, but the FCDO is asking you to stay alert and keep an eye on their travel advice page before and during your trip. Sensible advice, really.

When are flights to Dubai restarting?

Several major carriers suspended flights when the conflict broke out, and not all of them are racing to get back in the air:

Virgin Atlantic suspended Dubai flights and has pushed its restart date to winter 2027. A spokesperson confirmed this week that position "remains the case."

British Airways has said it won't resume UAE flights until October 2026 at the earliest.

Emirates, the UAE's state carrier, has continued operating throughout the conflict and remains your best bet for getting there right now.

So if you're looking to fly this summer or even next year, your options are more limited than usual — but they do exist, particularly via Emirates.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia: also back on the table

It's not just Dubai. The FCDO has also dropped its travel warnings for Qatar and most parts of Saudi Arabia, meaning the wider Gulf region is opening back up for British travellers.

What should you do next?

• Check the latest FCDO advice before booking, it can change quickly, and you want the most up-to-date picture.

• Compare flights via Emirates if you want to travel soon; BA and Virgin aren't back until late 2026 at the earliest.

• Review your travel insurance policy to confirm it covers the UAE under current conditions.

• Act on deals sooner rather than later, prices tend to rise once the rush of demand hits.