United Arab Emirates Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip. Advisory as of March 2, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 3· Reconsider Travel

Level 3 of 4 · as of March 2, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

No overall travel warning

Last updated June 18, 2026 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to UAE. Updated information about regional tensions (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

March 2, 2026 — current
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for United Arab Emirates since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is United Arab Emirates safe? What the official advisory says

Updated to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of government personnel on March 2. Advisory summary was updated .

Reconsider travel to the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of armed conflict and terrorism.

Advisory Summary

On March 2, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government family members to leave the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of armed conflict.

Armed Conflict

Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights. The Iranian regime has publicly stated its intention to target locations in the UAE associated with the United States.

Terrorism

There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in the United Arab Emirates. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and may target tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping areas, government facilities, places of worship, and in particular locations associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities.

Aviation Safety

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) recommending caution for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators operating in the Middle East, including the UAE. For more information, Americans who plan to travel to the region should check the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Local laws

Residents and visitors should be aware the UAE has strict rules on social behavior, drug possession, traffic violations, and financial crimes. Breaking these rules can lead to arrest and/or an exit ban. Americans should review the Department of State’s Destination Information Page for the UAE to learn about local laws, special circumstances, and additional information about travel to the United Arab Emirates.

For U.S. citizens in the United Arab Emirates:

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of March 2, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

United Arab Emirates travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for United Arab Emirates?

As of March 2, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates United Arab Emirates at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip.

What does Level 3 mean?

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) — Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip.

When did the United Arab Emirates travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on March 2, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for United Arab Emirates?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: No overall travel warning (last updated June 18, 2026). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.