On Sunday, March 8, it informed British nationals of the new system on X, explaining: “Today we have opened a booking portal for British nationals in Dubai wishing to access UK government provided flights.
“We are prioritising those who are most vulnerable and our teams are in touch with those who have registered.
“Our priority remains the safety of our British nationals.”
Today we have opened a booking portal for British nationals in Dubai wishing to access UK government provided flights.
We are prioritising those who are most vulnerable and our teams are in touch with those who have registered.
Our priority remains the safety of our… pic.twitter.com/E6hYYOxaVB
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) March 8, 2026
It attached a travel update image to the post, sharing instructions for those affected.
The FCDO warned British nationals to only make their way to Dubai Airport if they “have received confirmation from us that you have a seat.”
It added: “British nationals in the UAE should continue to follow the advice of the UAE authorities.
“British nationals elsewhere in the region should register their presence with the FCDO, monitor travel advice and follow the security advice from local authorities.”
On Saturday, March 7, the FCDO said: “Almost 27,000 British nationals have left the region since March 1.”
What is happening in the Middle East?
The US and Israel attacked Iran last month, killing its supreme leader.
The first reported American casualties included three American service members as the US and Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Saturday, February 28.
Five were seriously injured in military operations targeting Iran, the US military said.
We have partially resumed operations from today, 7 March, with some flights operating out of DXB and DWC.
Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change.
— DXB (@DXB) March 7, 2026
Airspace closures in the Middle East have resulted in a number of commercial flights being grounded since the attacks began on Saturday.
Airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet have changed their flight schedules since the attack and travel advice has been updated for those in the region or thinking about travelling to the region.
Recommended reading:
Is it safe to travel to Dubai?
The UK government’s latest advice for those travelling to the UAE can be found on the website.
It says the “FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.”
People should know that travelling to the region while this advice is in place could result in their travel insurance becoming invalid.
British nationals are advised to check the latest travel updates.
