Lifestyle Trend: The 21 countries the Foreign Office advises Brits against travelling to – full list You Should Know

Amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, the FCDO has updated its travel warnings for a number of countries.

Conflict in the Middle East is continuing, with the US and Israel’s assault on Iran being met with severe retaliation. The US-Israeli operation has claimed the life of Iran’s Ayatollah and several of his top team with a series of missile strikes.

In response, Iran has targeted and attacked neighbouring countries, especially those with American bases or ties to the US regime. With President Donald Trump saying the conflict could last for weeks, tensions show no signs of coming down any time soon.

The RAF base in Cyprus was targeted, as was Dubai, where tens of thousands of Brits currently live. UK nationals living in the UAE and five other countries have been urged to register with the UK Government by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as part of their evacuation efforts.

And the FCDO has been updating its advice for Brits looking to head abroad, offering the most up-to-date and reliable source of information about safe foreign travel. There have been changes to 21 different countries over the past weekend, The Mirror reports.

Any Brits planning to travel abroad for a holiday, family visit, business, or another reason should make sure they are on the ball when it comes to the latest travel recommendations. At the time of writing, here are the 21 countries with updated FCDO guidance.

Full list of countries with updated travel warnings

Afghanistan

Afghanistan was already on the FCDO’s list to avoid. The government department’s website warns: “You should not travel to Afghanistan. The security situation is volatile and tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have previously resulted in violent clashes in border regions. Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and a number of border crossings are not currently open.

“There is a heightened risk of British nationals being detained in Afghanistan. If you are a British national and you are detained in Afghanistan, you could face months or years of imprisonment. FCDO’s ability to help you is extremely limited and support in person is not possible in Afghanistan.”

Armenia

The FCDO advises against all travel to areas around the Armenia-Azerbaijan border due to tensions between the countries.

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Azerbaijan

As well as avoiding the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the southwest of Azerbaijan.

Bahrain

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Bahrain. Bahrain is also one of the six countries where Brits residing there should register their presence.

Egypt

A more popular holiday destination for Brits than many other places on this list, all travel to the Egypt-Libya border and areas close to Israel should be avoided. The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to the Western Desert.

These areas are far from the usual tourist resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, but it’s worth bearing in mind that the situation can rapidly change, so holidaymakers should keep an eye out for updates.

Iran

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Iran, and states: “If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying.

“British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.”

Iraq

Iraq is on FCDO’s ‘do not travel’ list, and its website warns: “There is significant risk of further escalation, and events are fast-moving and unpredictable.”

Israel

The FCDO’s guidance has been revised to recommend against all travel to Israel. British citizens currently in the nation should register their whereabouts and adhere to local guidance.

Jordan

There should be no travel to within 3km (approximately 1.8 miles) of the Jordan-Syria border. Those visiting other regions should stay informed with FCDO guidance prior to travelling.

Kuwait

Another country where Brits living there should register their presence, all but essential travel to Kuwait should be avoided too. The FCDO stated: “Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in Kuwait should immediately shelter in place.” It continued: “Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

Lebanon

All travel to Lebanon’s borders with Syria and Israel should be avoided. The FCDO also recommends against all travel to particular areas of Beirut, whilst the remainder of the nation should be avoided except for essential travel.

Oman

There is currently a ‘shelter in place’ alert for Brits in certain parts of Oman. The FCDO website states: “We advise that British nationals in the city of Duqm and surrounding area shelter in place.

“Any British nationals currently visiting Salalah, or within 100km, should look to leave as soon as possible if commercial means allow. British residents in Salalah should follow the advice of local authorities, sheltering in place as required.”

Pakistan

All travel within 10 miles of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border should be avoided, and the FCDO also maintains an extensive list of areas to steer clear of. It additionally advises against all but essential travel within five miles of the Pakistan-India Border Area.

Palestine

The FCDO advises against all travel to Israel and Palestine. British nationals living in either country should register their presence.

Qatar

All but essential travel to Qatar should be avoided and Brits living there should register their presence. The FCDO states: “Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in Qatar should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

Saudi Arabia

Travel warnings for Saudi Arabia primarily concern the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border, with Brits urged to avoid areas within 80km (50 miles) of the border. For Brits currently in Saudi Arabia, the FCDO warns: “Due to reports of missile activity in the region, we advise all British nationals to stay at home. Remain indoors in a secure location and follow instruction from the local authorities.”

Syria

The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Syria.

Turkey

The FCDO has issued a travel warning to avoid the area within 10km (just over six miles) from the Turkey-Syria border. It isn’t currently advising against travel to Turkey, a popular holiday destination, but Brits planning a visit soon should sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts and monitor news updates closely.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s guidance has been revised for those wishing to cross the border from Iran. It states: “If you are a British national wanting to enter Turkmenistan from Iran, you will need special authorisation from the Government of Turkmenistan. This can be facilitated by the British Embassy in Ashgabat by contacting the FCDO before you travel to the border, indicating whether you are contacting from Iran or from the UK on behalf of a relative.”

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

FCDO guidance has been updated to recommend Brits avoid all but essential travel to the entire UAE, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Tens of thousands of Brits live in the UAE, with Dubai a particular hotspot, and all of them are encouraged to register their presence to receive instructions on what to do.

The FCDO guidance states: “Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in UAE should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

Yemen

The FCDO continues to warn against all travel to Yemen and states: “If you’re in Yemen, you should leave immediately.”

At the time of writing, the FCDO is not advising against travel to Cyprus, despite the attack on the RAF base.

The FCDO website states: “On March 2, 2026, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed a suspected drone impact at RAF Akrotiri. British nationals in the Sovereign Base Areas should follow instructions from the Sovereign Base Areas Administration British Bases Cyprus Facebook British nationals in the Republic of Cyprus should follow any instructions from Cypriot local authorities.”

What should you do if you’re already in an affected region?

The FCDO has urged Brits currently in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, or United Arab Emirates to register their presence in order to receive direct updates regarding FCDO advice. British nationals in affected nations should also sign up for FCDO alerts, stay informed with local guidance, and contact their travel insurer and airline for additional information.

Advice is accurate at time of writing but travellers should always consult the FCDO website before making any travel plans as updates can change rapidly.