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HomeContact UsThe information on this site is only valid for policies purchased on or after the 15th May 2025
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Middle East Conflict (Policies Purchased prior to 28/02/2026)

Middle East, United Arab Emirates (Dubai & Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain - Iran Conflict

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Important
This information is valid for policies purchased on, or after the 15th May 2025. If you purchased prior to this, different rules apply, and you should contact us for clarification.

Who is this information for ?

The information on this page is only valid for any policy purchased, or trip booked prior to the 28th February 2026

For current advice please click here instead.

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When was this advice last updated: 21st August 2026 at 12:30

Update overview: Updated Bahrain and Kuwait cover position after change in FCDO advice.

Where can I travel?

Our policies do not provide cover to any country, or area of a country where the FCDO advises against all, or all but essential travel. For all other countries, or areas of a country without any advice against travel, cover will apply so long as your trip is otherwise within the terms of your policy. In particular, that your policy covers the entire duration of your trip, and that the country is within the area of cover you’ve purchased.

While we update this page on a regular basis, you should always check the latest advice using the FCDO advice links within this page, as advice can change at short notice.

Can I travel

To countries in the middle east?

At the time of last update to this page, our policies cover the majority of the middle east. Cover is based on the current FCDO advice, which you should always check before you travel.

No cover to Palestine

No cover to parts of Israel

Links to check the current FDCO advice for other middle east countries include Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates

To countries near the middle east?

At the time of last update to this page, travel to the normal tourist areas of countries near the middle east such as Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt are covered under our policies, however some areas (for example the border between Egypt and Israel) are not, so it’s important you check the relevant FCDO advice page carefully.

On a connecting flight via Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha or other middle east airport?

For countries where the FCDO advises against all, or all but essential travel, the following rules apply. So long as your destination isn’t one to which the FCDO advises against all, or all but essential travel you are still covered to travel under your policy,  you’ll however have reduced cover under your policy during your connecting flight as follows:

No cover under the ‘Cancelling or Cutting Short a Trip’ and ‘Disruption Or Delay To Travel Plans’ sections of your policy for any claim that is caused directly or indirectly by your connecting flight(s) via an airport in a country to which the FCDO advises against travel.

While you are in the airport, so long as you don’t leave the airport, you’ll be covered under the ‘Medical Emergency and Repatriation Expenses’ and ‘Personal Belongings and Money’ sections of the policy, so long as the incident isn’t related directly or indirectly to the reason the FCDO are advising against travel.

If you leave the airport during your connection you will not be covered under any section of the policy.

What happens if

I’m no longer able to travel as I don’t want to take a connecting flight via Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha or other middle east airport?

For any trip you had both booked and insured prior to the 28th February 2026, you’ll be able to claim for cancelling your trip so long as the advice against travel remains in place for Qatar (Doha) or United Arab Emirates (Dubai) or other middle east destinations, 21 days prior to your trip.

If you booked a trip on or after the 28th February 2026, even if you’d booked your insurance before this date, you won’t be able to claim as the FCDO advice was already in place when you booked your policy.

The FCDO travel advice for my destination changes and I can no longer travel

If there was no FCDO advice against travel to your destination on the date you purchased your policy, or on the date you booked your trip (whichever is later) and the FCDO later advises against travel to your destination, you may be able to claim for cancellation of your trip. To be able to make a claim, the advice must still be in place in the final 21 days prior to your trip.

Before you make a claim you should first check with your providers if you’re entitled to a refund. In particular if you’re travelling on a package trip you should speak to your tour operator. You are protected under ‘The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018,’ and ‘The European Package Travel Directive’, and your package provider will arrange alternative accommodation, new flights, etc.

Please note if your provider provides you with an alternative destination, you should contact us as we may be able to adjust your policy to cover your replacement destination.

My flight is affected by airspace closure or fuel shortages

Airspace closure and fuel shortages are considered an operational airline issue, it is normally the responsibility of the airline or carrier to rearrange your journey or provide a refund where applicable.

If, on the day you are due to travel, your flight is delayed or cancelled and no suitable alternative is provided within 12 hours of your scheduled departure time, the following cover may apply (subject to your policy terms and conditions).

Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies

You may be covered for the cost of cancelling your trip.

Reasonable additional accommodation and public transport costs to continue your trip.

The cost of cancelling your trip if, within 7 days of your original departure date, your flight is rearranged and you miss 50% or more of your trip.

I become stuck abroad

If you are stuck abroad, then so long as you have a valid claim, your policy will automatically extend at no cost to you, so long as you take the first available flight offered to you, either by your airline or by the UK government, to get you home.

Please note if you become stuck abroad where you’ve travelled against FCDO advice including during transit, then your policy will not automatically extend. We may be able to offer you a paid extension depending on the circumstances.