A new wave of missile fire between Israel and Iran is testing the fragile ceasefire in place across the Middle East, although the travel advice for the United Arab Emirates has not changed — the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel.
However, the UAE’s airspace is open amid the conflict in the Gulf, allowing flights to depart from and arrive into Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Both Emirates and Etihad have largely resumed their flights to the country.
The UK Foreign Office continues to warn against all but essential travel to the UAE, meaning any journeys to the country could invalidate your travel insurance. This includes if you’re transiting through the UAE without leaving the airport.
The official advice to Britons in the Emirates is: “Limit your movements to essential journeys only. When travel is unavoidable, aim to move during daylight hours and avoid crowded venues. Always let friends or family know where you are and when you are travelling, and keep your mobile phone with you and charged.”
In addition, local authorities may send out alerts for the public to take shelter. If so, you should stay indoors or move to the nearest safe building immediately.
The Foreign Office also warns against Britons posting any critical material online, which could include video and social media posts that portray the government or the UAE in general in a negative light.
In normal times, Dubai is one of the world’s most visited cities. More than 19.5 million people visited in 2025 to see its skyscrapers, relax on the beach or stay in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
However, Dubai’s location, across the Gulf from Iran, means it’s also at risk of feeling the heat during any tension between other Middle Eastern nations. The UK Foreign Office has warned that Britons should not travel unless absolutely necessary, which will trigger the cancellation of most holidays.
If you’re travelling to Dubai or another emirate soon, here’s what you need to know.
The UK Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel to the UAE, which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Travelling against the Foreign Office’s advice could invalidate your travel insurance, even if you’re just transiting through the UAE without leaving the airport.
The Foreign Office also warns Britons in the UAE to follow instructions from the authorities, and that regional escalation of the conflict could pose serious security risks to them.
The order to stay indoors has been softened a little: “If local authorities advise you to take shelter, stay indoors or move to the nearest safe building immediately. The greatest risk is from falling debris caused by intercepts, and you are safest inside a secure structure. Choose an interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible for additional protection.” The Foreign Office also recommends limiting movements to “essential journeys only”.
More generally, as with most nations in the Gulf, the Foreign Office warns that: “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.” It adds that possible targets may include hotels, beaches, restaurants and shopping centres.
At the moment, Britons should stay away from secure areas and military facilities, which have been Iranian targets, although the government also warns that civilian infrastructure across the country — including hotels, roads, bridges, airports and institutions — has also come under fire from Iran.
It also warns Britons not to post any critical material online, which is illegal.
You’ve successfully signed up to the Travel newsletter
Explore our newsletters
An error occurred. Please use the link below. Travel newsletter
Explore our newsletters
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the United Arab Emirates have felt serious regional heat from the conflict between Israel and Iran, with missile and drone attacks on places with US interests. However, UAE airspace is open, and carriers have largely resumed their flights.
Luxury hotels, residences and airports have been hit by falling debris from missiles. If tensions escalate quickly and without warning, there is the possibility of further disruption.
If you have a package holiday — for example, a combination of flights and accommodation bought from a tour operator with Atol (Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing) protection — booked to Dubai or any of the other emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah) you are eligible for a full refund now that the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel. Ask your tour operator or travel agent for more information.
At present, the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the UAE.
Should the situation change, free tourist visas are issued to British passport holders on arrival in Dubai, so there’s no need to apply before your holiday. The visa will be a stamp applied in your passport by immigration officials. It will be valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period, which starts from the date of first entry into the UAE. Your passport must have at least six months remaining after the day you arrive.
If you’ve been to Israel in the past and there’s evidence of this in your passport, you can enter the UAE as normal, as long as you don’t intend to do any work. However, if you are planning to work, you may be subject to further checks and entry may be denied.
Tourists can drink in licensed venues such as hotels, restaurants and pubs. Visitors will need a liquor licence to buy alcohol from the two main chains that sell alcohol in Dubai; they can obtain a temporary licence with their passport and entry stamp.
Same-sex marriages are not recognised and there have been reports of punishment for same-sex sexual activity (which is illegal in the UAE), particularly if there’s a public element. The Foreign Office says that “the UAE is in many respects a tolerant society and private life is respected”.
The UAE changed its laws around sex outside marriage in 2020 as part of several reforms in the country. Non-Muslim unmarried couples of the opposite sex can now legally cohabit and share a hotel room. Consensual sex between non-Muslim unmarried adults of the opposite sex is also legal, provided they are both single. A couple would be breaking the law if one of them was married and their spouse filed a criminal complaint. The law against sex with a minor under the age of 18 is strictly enforced.
The UAE is a Muslim country and — even in liberal Dubai — public displays of affection are frowned upon.
Women should dress modestly when in public, in areas such as shopping malls and parks. This means that clothes should cover the top of the arms and legs, and no underwear or swimwear should be on show. It helps to take a scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders when you need to, for example at religious sites. Swimwear is acceptable if you’re at the beach or a swimming pool.
Promoted Content
© Times Media Limited 2025.
Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF.
Enjoy unlimited access to all articles. Ends soon.
Enjoy unlimited digital access.
Already have an account? Log in
