Foreign Office March 19 travel update as new Middle East alert for 32 countries

1 hour ago 1

The government has issued further advice for Brits heading abroad as the conflict in parts of the Middle East between Iran, Israel, and the US continues

15:33, Thu, Mar 19, 2026 Updated: 15:48, Thu, Mar 19, 2026

UAE-IRAN-ISRAEL-US-WAR-TRANSPORT

People travelling to these destinations have been warned (Image: Getty)

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The Foreign Office has issued new updates for several countries, with warnings in place due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Anyone travelling to these areas, including some holiday hotspots, should be aware of the risks.

The ongoing situation in Iran started on February 28, when the US and Israel launched widespread strikes. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in the position since 1989, was killed during the first wave of strikes.

The conflict has caused travel disruption across parts of the Gulf region, including Dubai. The United States is continuing with its war against Iran, despite the lack of backing from world allies.

The situation has caused major disruption and unrest across parts of the world. The UK Foreign Office has updated its stance on the safety and security of some areas, even those miles away from the conflict zone.

Today, March 19, over 30 countries were added to or updated on the list of countries with alerts due to the Middle East conflict. People planning to visit these areas in the coming days or weeks should monitor updates.

Most areas were given a generic warning for people to take notice of in areas affected by the conflict itself or ones that share airspace.

In several country profiles, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: "Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East."

Before travelling, people are urged to:

Check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
Check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator before travelling
Review your travel insurance policy for coverage before you travel
Monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts

Below is a full list of territories in the world where new alerts have been issued (as of March 19, 2026).

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Central Asia and Caucasus

Georgia
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan

East Asia

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