Amid the sharp escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, caused by the mutual attacks between the US, Israel, and Iran, the British Foreign Office has begun developing plans for the emergency evacuation of British citizens from the Persian Gulf region.
According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, there are at least 200,000 British citizens—tourists, expats, transit passengers, and residents—in countries across the region (including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, as well as Israel and Palestine). Of these, more than 94,000 have already registered their location on the FCDO’s dedicated online platform, launched in the early hours of the crisis. Some estimates suggest this figure could increase significantly.
The government is considering several evacuation scenarios:
Air humanitarian corridors from Muscat (Oman) or Kuwait City, in coordination with regional countries.
A land route via Saudi Arabia from the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Potential use of military transport aircraft and Royal Navy ships in an emergency.
Official FCDO statement: “British citizens in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, and the UAE are urged to register on our website for live updates. Stay safe, follow local government guidance, avoid all travel, and monitor travel advisories. The ‘shelter in place’ policy is currently in effect.”
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice:
Complete travel ban to Iran, Israel, and Palestine.
Essential travel only to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Advice to avoid certain areas of Pakistan.
It is expected that if the situation deteriorates further, the evacuation operation could become one of the largest in UK history—comparable in scale to the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021, but primarily by air and sea.
The situation is evolving rapidly: further travel advice updates and announcements regarding the launch of specific evacuation routes are possible in the coming hours. Britons in the region are urged to remain calm and register promptly on gov.uk.