FCDO Advice UAE, Qatar, Bahrain

Ayr_Rage

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657469/fcdo-advice-uae-qatar-bahrain

FCDO advises against all travel to Israel.

What’s the difference between ‘all travel’ and ‘all but essential’?

daveyjp

Essential means you are sent!

In reality, unless you have access to personal aircraft and permission to fly in the area, getting there will be difficult at the moment. A friend should have returned to Dubai yesterday, but will not be going anywhere soon.

TELLIT01

The attack on Dubai airport is probably the most effective reply Iran could make. It's the major hub for travel between the East and Europe. With that closed down long haul air travel is going to be in chaos

Ayr_Rage

Time for everybody planning to holiday in or transit via the region to check their travel insurance wording regarding advisory notices.

Aretnap

What’s the difference between ‘all travel’ and ‘all but essential’?

Is have thought that was fairly obvious: one means dangerous, don't go unless you really have to: the other means very dangerous, don't go full stop. It's general advice, not an instruction, so they're not going to define every possible scenario which might count as "essential" travel.

In practice it makes little difference as Middle Eastern airspace is largely closed, so you're not going to any of those countries anyway, unless you fancy flying to Turkey and trekking across Syria/Iraq to get there.

From a travel insurance point of view most standard travel insurance policies won't cover travel where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel (though they will cover cancellation if the advice changes after you booked the holiday and bought the insurance). You can get an expensive specialist policy if you want cover for an "essential travel only" destination. For an destination where the FCDO advises against all travel you will probably struggle to get cover at any price.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904558#Comment_81904558

Whatever you consider essential.

If you are due to close a multimillion new deal do you consider it essential you travel?

You have a 2 week expensive holiday booked. Do you consider it essential you travel?

A close relative has days to live. Do you consider it essential to travel?

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904789#Comment_81904789

I see that way round; if you had one of those circumstances but the advice was ‘no travel’ would you still go?

SiliconChip

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904846#Comment_81904846

Probably not, but as already pointed out the question (and the advice) is moot as there is no way to get there at the moment anyway.

Worried_fool

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904627#Comment_81904627

Not quite.

Muscat airport (in Oman) seems to be operating normally, and is linked with Dubai by a regular bus service. The journey takes about six hours, including passport control: in a hired car or taxi it would be a good deal quicker.

strawb_shortcake

I've read there's around 3000 people at or heading to Male airport and unable to get home as their flights were connecting via, UAE and that number will only increase. Seats on direct flights are reportedly circa £2500