The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a cautionary update urging British tourists in Dubai and across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to consider departing if their presence is not essential. This update reflects the escalating tensions in the Middle East, prompting changes in travel advice for popular holiday destinations including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
According to the FCDO, “there are a limited number of commercial options available, including by air from UAE and from Oman. If your presence in UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing.” This advisory comes as the UK government prepares a chartered repatriation flight from Oman scheduled for Wednesday, aimed at assisting British nationals wishing to return home.
Among those impacted by the volatile situation in the region is 12-year-old Ahmad Ali from Swindon, Wiltshire, who endured three nights stranded at Dubai airport while traveling back from Pakistan. His mother, Hafsa Ali, shared the ordeal: “It was very terrible for us because he is only 12 years old and he was alone. Thanks to Emirates, they looked after my son. I can’t express my feelings.” Ahmad himself expressed relief: “It was so terrible but I was with Emirates and they wanted to take care of me. I’m so happy to be home.”
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Another stranded tourist, Magda Papadimitriou, 40, from Greece, described the uncertainty and fear of being stuck in Dubai for five days, noting the lack of shelters and the ongoing anxiety about the situation’s potential escalation. “Dubai doesn’t have shelters, it doesn’t have that kind of stuff, [but] they tried to make us feel less worried. We wanted to go home because we feel safe there," she said.
As conflict continues to affect the Middle East, the FCDO’s advisory underscores the importance for British nationals in the UAE to assess their travel plans carefully, prioritizing safety amid an unpredictable geopolitical climate.