A memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, reached following months of negotiations, has prompted the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to lift its advisory against all but essential travel to Dubai and neighboring emirates. The development, which comes more than 100 days after the initial U.S. military actions in Iran, signifies a de-escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Travel bans to other Middle Eastern destinations, including Qatar and parts of Saudi Arabia, have also been removed. Dubai, a popular destination for both business and leisure travelers, with approximately 1.4 million visitors annually, saw a significant drop in tourism following the outbreak of war at the end of February. By early March, 29,000 flights scheduled across the region were canceled, according to aviation analytics provider Cirium, leaving some Britons stranded for up to 12 days.
The suspension of flights also impacted connecting travel, as Dubai International Airport serves as a major transit hub, handling over 95 million passengers in 2025. Flights to destinations such as the Maldives and Australia, which commonly connect through Dubai, were heavily affected.
Following the FCDO's decision on June 18, airlines are gradually resuming operations. British Airways plans to restart flights to Doha on August 1 and to Riyadh on August 8. Services to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman are scheduled to resume on October 25, at the conclusion of the summer season. The airline intends to reduce services to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv to one daily flight upon resumption and will discontinue its Jeddah route.
KLM is expected to restart flights to and from Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam from August 10. Emirates, meanwhile, has already reinstated 97% of its global network from its Dubai hub.
Stuart Armsby, Middle East product manager at Kenwood Travel, described the lifting of travel restrictions as "one of the most significant travel updates we’ve seen this year" and anticipates a swift return of traveler confidence to the region. Michelle Amor, a travel specialist, highlighted that the FCDO's revised advice not only reopens Dubai for British holidaymakers but also facilitates travel to Thailand, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. A crucial consequence of the lifted restrictions is the renewed validity of standard travel insurance policies.
Tour operators are offering substantial discounts on travel to the region. Deals include a 50% saving on five-night stays at Anantara, The Palm, Dubai Resort from £949 per person, including return Emirates flights from Gatwick, for bookings made by August 31 for September departures. A five-night stay at the five-star Al Habtoor Grand Resort is available from £939 per person, with a £600 saving, including direct return flights with Emirates and private transfers for departures on September 3. Le Royal Meridien Dubai is offering a 45% discount on five-night, half-board stays from £999 per person, including Emirates flights from Gatwick, for bookings made by July 3 for September 2 departures. Raffles, The Palm Dubai, has a 20% discount on all rooms and suites, with complimentary stays for children under 12 and 25% off dining. A 55% saving is available on five-night, half-board stays at the JA Beach Hotel from £989 per person, including return Emirates flights from Gatwick, for bookings made by July 7 for September 2 departures. The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah is offering a 40% discount on three-night, half-board stays from £659 per person, including return flights and private transfers, with children staying free on an all-inclusive basis. Additionally, savings of £280 are available on five-night, half-board stays at JA Lake View, including return direct flights with Emirates and private transfers.