The conflict in the Middle East has taken on a new shape after Donald Trump ordered a US attack on three nuclear sites in Iran.
And, as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, 10 days since Benjamin Netanyahu’s surprise strikes, waves of disruption are affecting travel across the region.
Flights from London to Dubai and Doha have been cancelled, after a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Dubai was diverted to Zurich on Saturday night.
All of BA’s scheduled departures from Heathrow on Sunday, including returns, were cancelled.
The chaos has left British holidaymakers wondering if it’s safe to travel to Qatar, or if they can still transit through Doha – a major hub for international flights – for journeys to Asia and Australia.
Doha airport is one of the busiest in the Middle East. In 2024, Hamad International said it served 52.7 million passengers, a 15% increase on the previous year.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
What does the Foreign Office say about visiting Qatar?
The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travelling to Qatar, however it has updated its guidance on safety in the Gulf country.
After the US attack on the Iranian nuclear sites at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan in the early hours of Sunday, the Foreign Office has warned that hostilities in the region are at risk of deteriorating suddenly.
The FCDO warns of travel disruption, including snap airspace closures, as well as delayed and cancelled flights.
Anyone travelling to or transiting in Qatar is advised to keep up to speed with Foreign Office guidance, and monitor local media for latest information.
This guidance is also in place for the following Middle Eastern countries:
- The UAE (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
How far is Qatar from Israel and Iran?
While Qatar shares a regional neighbourhood with Israel and Iran, it is a considerable distance from both.
The distance from Israel to Qatar is around 1,720km, while Iran is closer, at 821km.
Can I claim a refund for my holiday if I don’t want to go?
In terms of refund rights, it’s important to note that the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to Qatar.
Because of this, there is no prospect of being able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
Travel insurance is unlikely to help, either. Insurers will argue there is no reason not to go.
As Grant Winter, compliance officer at specialist travel insurance provider Goodtogo, tells Metro: ‘No airline is obligated to refund you for a flight you choose not to take.’
So, if you choose not to travel, you’re likely to lose some – or even all – of your money.
However, if your flight has been cancelled, like the British Airways routes from Heathrow over the weekend, it’s a different story.
Following the cancellations, BA said: ‘As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew, which is always our top priority.
‘We are contacting our customers to advise them of their options while we work through this developing situation.’
The airline is offering a flexible booking policy for anyone already booked on a flight to Doha or Dubai between Sunday and Tuesday. This gives you the chance to change your date of travel.
Is it safe to travel to Dubai, Jordan and other holiday destinations?
Across the Middle East and neighbouring regions, flights have been cancelled and airspaces closed.
According to FlightRadar24, airlines are avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel, taking alternative routes north above the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
On social media, anxious travellers have voiced concern about the conflict spilling over to Cyprus, Jordan and UAE hotspots such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
In an update on the Foreign Office pages for several destinations, the UK warns that ‘ongoing hostilities’ have the potential to ‘deteriorate quickly’.
They are:
- The UAE (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia.
In addition to Doha, British Airways and Singapore Airlines have cancelled flights to Dubai following the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites by the US.
All of BA’s trips between London Heathrow and Dubai – the world’s second-busiest airport – have been put on pause as the world waits to learn what will happen next.
Emirates is continuing to operate flights from UK airports to Dubai despite the latest escalation, though these have also faced delays and disruption.
Meanwhile for Jordan, the Foreign Office reiterates the risk of ongoing hostilities in the region between Iran and Israel.
It says travellers should monitor local news channels and follow the instructions of local authorities. If you hear air raid sirens, the guidance says you should take shelter and stay away from windows.
Before you travel, the Foreign Office advises you to contact your airline and, if you have one, your travel insurer.
In Cyprus, which is just 472km from Israel and Palestine, people have described seeing streaks of light crossing the night sky over the island.
Some said they believed they had witnessed missile interception from Larnaca, but the blurry, low-resolution video shared in the post was impossible to verify.
But despite the rapidly developing situation, the UK Foreign Office has not issued an official warning suggesting that Cyprus is unsafe for visitors.
Current guidance reads: ‘Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region.’
The Foreign Office advises travellers already on the island to monitor local and international media for updates, and follow the instructions of local authorities.
What is happening in Israel and Iran?
In the early hours of Friday, June 13, Israel launched an unprecedented strike that targeted Iran’s nuclear and military sites.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon that posed an imminent threat to Israel.
Iran, for its part, insists it doesn’t want nuclear weapons. Israel is widely acknowledged to have nuclear weapons, though it has never publicly confirmed it.
Strikes by both countries continue as the conflict enters its tenth day, but the situation has taken on a new shape since Donald Trump ordered an attack on three nuclear sites in the early hours of Sunday.
The President said the strikes had ‘obliterated’ their targets in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan in an operation dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.
Some 125 US miltary aircraft, including seven B-2 stealth bombers, were involved in the mission, US General Dan Caine said.
Tehran warned of ‘everlasting consequences’ after the US said it had ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program.
The attack drew praise and condemnation. Saudi Arabia has voiced ‘great concern’ while Oman condemned the actions outright.
The UK, France and Germany have called on Iran to avoid taking any action that could further ‘destabilise’ the region.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the three European powers said Iran can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon — despite US national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard’s recent assessment that Iran was not building one.
