The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued updated travel advice focused on British nationals affected by the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including new guidance on registering with the UK government and monitoring local instructions.
The latest Foreign Office travel advice update, published on March 1 2026, provides consolidated guidance for British nationals currently in or travelling to parts of the Middle East.
Key actions British travellers should take
The FCDO sets out four core steps for anyone affected by the current situation in the region:
- Register your presence if you are in one of the listed affected countries so you can receive direct updates from the UK government.
- Monitor the travel advice for the specific country you are in, as this may change at short notice.
- Follow instructions from local authorities, including safety, movement and security guidance.
- Read the government’s guidance on what to do if you are caught up in a crisis abroad, so you understand what support is available and what you may need to arrange yourself.
Registering your presence in the Middle East
British nationals in six countries can now register their presence with the UK government to receive direct communications from the FCDO. This applies if you are in:
- Bahrain
- Israel
- Kuwait
- Palestine
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
By completing the relevant online form for your country, you notify the UK government that you are in that location and can be contacted with important updates or information if the situation changes. The FCDO stresses that this registration complements, rather than replaces, the need to keep checking the main travel advice pages and following local authority guidance.
Countries with recently updated travel advice
Alongside the registration scheme, the government lists a series of destinations where official travel advice has been recently updated. These are mainly in the Middle East and surrounding region, reflecting heightened tensions and evolving security assessments. Recent updates cover:
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Travellers are urged to read the full country-specific pages on GOV.UK before travel and to keep checking them regularly while abroad, as advice on issues such as entry requirements, security risks or routes in and out of a country can shift rapidly.
Where to find more information
All official advice is hosted on GOV.UK under the FCDO’s foreign travel advice section, which provides detailed, country-by-country guidance on safety, security, entry rules, local laws and what to do in emergencies. The Foreign Office notes that this central travel advice should be used alongside any updates you receive after registering your presence and any instructions issued by local authorities in your destination.
