Travel has been thrown into chaos across the Middle East following Israel’s attack on Iran, with airspaces closed and flights cancelled.
Last week, the UK Foreign Office advised against all travel to Israel. Now, travellers are looking at the map of the wider region with concern over whether it is safe to travel to Turkey.
Turkey’s country’s golden beaches and ancient cities are some of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers.
The country spanning Europe and Asia clocked 4.43 million visits from British tourists in 2024, with many drawn to coastal hotspots like Bodrum and Marmaris as well as the sprawling streets of Istanbul.
What does the Foreign Office say about visiting Turkey?
The UK Foreign Office has not advised against travelling to Turkey, and you can rest assured that most regions are safe and tourist-friendly.
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However, while the country has not been affected by the current conflict in the Middle East, the UK has been warning against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria for many years.
As it stands, nine countries are on the Foreign Office’s ‘do not travel list’. You can find the full list here.
On Friday, the Foreign Office shared new guidance for British nationals entering Turkey across the land border from Iran.
Anyone wishing to do so will need to request facilitation from the British Embassy in Ankara. You can do this by contacting the Foreign Office before travelling to the border, providing your name, date of birth, and travel document details.
Unrelated to the strikes by Israel and Iran, Turkey has made headlines in recent days after two hot air balloons filled with tourists crashed to the ground in the world-famous Cappadocia region.
One person was killed and at least a dozen injured. One was carrying Indonesian tourists and set off at 5am local time (3am GMT).
Two hours later, it made a hard landing near the village of Karataş, with the pilot dying in the crash.
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 Turkey.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Meanwhile 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.
