The UK government has lifted its advice against all but essential travel to several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, following the signing of an interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its travel guidance shortly after Washington and Tehran signed their memorandum of understanding, which is designed to bring an end to the conflict that had destabilised the wider region and raised fears of broader escalation across the Gulf.
The change will come as a significant relief to British travellers, businesses and airlines, as well as the millions of UK nationals who live and work across the Gulf states. The previous advisory had been in place due to the heightened risk of regional conflict spillover following the outbreak of hostilities between the US and Iran earlier this year, which had disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and sent oil prices sharply higher.
The easing of travel advice reflects growing confidence that the peace framework, signed at the G7 summit in France and due to be formally ratified in Switzerland, has meaningfully reduced the immediate threat to civilian safety across the region. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has described the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the broader de-escalation as “very, very important” for the UK, given the impact that the conflict had on energy prices for British households.
