Brits with holidays booked to Morocco, Egypt and Dubai issues urgent warning

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCO) has issued fresh warnings on its travel advice pages for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including Dubai, along with Morocco and Egypt. All three destinations are popular holiday destinations for British tourists, but holidaymakers are now being warned to stay “up to date” with the latest travel advice following an escalation of military action in the Middle East.

Across all three destinations, the FCO has issued a warning reading: “On April 13, 2024, Iran carried out military action against Israel. Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast.”

Britons with travel planned in the coming weeks are advised to monitor the FCO advice and stay up-to-date with any developments which may impact their holiday plans. The FCO also notes that “no travel can be guaranteed safe”, regardless of where you are going.

The update came after Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles towards Israel on Saturday night, marking its first ever direct attack on the Israeli state.

Israeli military spokesperson R Adm Daniel Hagari said 99 percent of the incoming drones were intercepted by Israel and its allies. However, this has sparked fresh warnings for tourists travelling to some surrounding nations.

As well as updated on the latest military action, the FCO also lists information about the risk of terrorist attacks which could target British tourists and UK nationals.

The FCO states that terrorists are “likely” or “very likely” to carry out attacks in all three countries.

In the UAE, the FCO states: “Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, including against UK citizens.”

For Morocco, the advice reads: “There is an increased threat linked to the number of Moroccans sympathetic or belonging to Daesh (formerly ISIL) and other extremist groups. Authorities regularly disrupt terrorist cells.

Places at higher risk of attack include: crowded areas, government installations, transportation networks, businesses with Western interests [and] areas where foreign nationals and tourists are known to gather.”

And, in Egypt, the FCO states: “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. You should remain vigilant at all times.”

British tourists are reminded to ensure they have travel insurance in place before going on holiday and not to travel to any regions that the FCO advises against. Travelling to such regions could void your travel insurance.

At the time of writing, the FCO is not advising against travel to Dubai and Morocco, though urges tourists to remain vigilant and to keep checking the FCO advice pages.

The FCO does advise against all travel to select parts of Egypt, including within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border and the Governorate of North Sinai. It also warns against all but essential travel to the Ismailiyah Governorate east of the Suez Canal, the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta (with some exceptions) and the northern part of the Governorate of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, except for the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula.