Emirates cancels 'all' flights to and from three countries as UK holidaymakers told they 'will not be accepted for travel'

Emirates has announced the cancellation of 'all' flights to three countries due to 'regional unrest' in the Middle East. UK holidaymakers travelling via Dubai to certain destinations have been informed they 'will not be accepted for travel'.

The British government is currently working on evacuating hundreds of Britons from Lebanon, following Prime Minister Keir Starmer's concerns over a potential 'regional war'. On Tuesday evening, Iran retaliated by launching nearly 200 missiles towards Israel in response to Israel's campaign against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

Travel to and from countries close to Lebanon has also been impacted. Flights from Emirates, Qatar Airways and Flydubai have reportedly faced disruptions due to cancellations or diversions.

However, Emirates has confirmed that flights from the UK to Dubai are operating as usual.

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In a statement, Emirates clarified: "Emirates is cancelling all regular flights to/from Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran), and Jordan (Amman) on 4th and 5th October due to regional unrest. Customers transiting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq, Iran, and Jordan will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice," reports Birmingham Live.

"Impacted customers must contact their booking agents for alternative travel options or contact us if they have booked with Emirates directly. Customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting Manage Your Booking to receive updates.

"We continue to closely monitor the situation in the region and are in contact with the relevant authorities regarding developments."

However, travellers should note the British Foreign Office's recommendations which include a warning against all travel to Iraq, save for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), where only essential journeys are advised. The guidance is sterner towards Iran, cautioning: "British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."