Headlines
UK urges citizens in Gulf states to shelter after missile attacks
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 1, 2026
Quick Summary
The UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE — and separately in Saudi Arabia — to shelter in place amid reported missile attacks following US‑Israeli strikes on Iran. Airspace closures and travel disruptions compound the heightened risk environment.
Britain Tells Citizens in Gulf States to Seek Shelter Amid Missile Attacks
Foreign Office Issues Urgent Safety Guidance for British Nationals
LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Office said on Saturday that British nationals in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates should immediately shelter in place due to reported missile attacks, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Official Instructions for British Nationals
"Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities," the Foreign Office said in a post on X.
Additional Advice for Saudi Arabia
It also advised all British nationals in Saudi Arabia to stay at home.
Travel Warnings and Regional Tensions
Advisory Note on Iran
In a separate advisory note on its website, the Foreign Office warned against all travel to Iran, saying Iranian airspace had closed and that rising regional tensions could cause sudden disruption.
General Safety Recommendations
It also urged British nationals to monitor local and international media, stay away from military or security sites, keep travel plans under review and be ready to follow shelter instructions from local authorities.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Kevin Liffey)
Key Takeaways
- •UK urges citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE (and Saudi Arabia) to shelter in place due to missile threat, avoid travel and follow local authorities’ instructions (uk.news.yahoo.com)
- •Iran’s retaliation to US‑Israeli strikes prompted widespread airspace closures across Gulf states, triggering major flight cancellations and disruptions (aljazeera.com)
- •The UK also reinforced travel warnings to Iran and urged citizens to monitor media, avoid military sites, and remain flexible due to volatile regional tensions (uk.news.yahoo.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK urges citizens in Gulf states to shelter after missile attacks
1Which Gulf countries did the UK warn its citizens to shelter in?
The UK advised citizens in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to shelter in place.
2What prompted the UK's Foreign Office to issue the shelter-in-place advisory?
The advisory followed reported missile attacks after US and Israeli strikes against Iran.
3What instructions did the UK government give to citizens in affected regions?
British nationals were told to remain indoors in secure locations, avoid travel, and follow local authority guidance.
4Are there any travel advisories for British nationals in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, the UK advised all British nationals in Saudi Arabia to stay at home.
5What additional advice was given about travel to Iran?
The UK warned against all travel to Iran, citing closed airspace and potential rapid disruption due to regional tensions.
