Foreign Office starts planning evacution of thousands of Britons in Middle East

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Rowena Mason Whitehall editorMarch 1, 2026 at 08:43 PM

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The UK Foreign Office is planning a potential evacuation of tens of thousands of British citizens from the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions. This follows airspace closures in the UAE, where over 50,000 British travelers are believed to be stranded. The government is considering various evacuation routes, including road transport to neighboring countries with open airspace, such as Saudi Arabia. The Ministry of Defence is collaborating with the Foreign Office to register and identify British nationals across multiple countries who may require assistance. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, Israel, and Palestine, and against all but essential travel to several other Middle Eastern nations. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is engaged in diplomatic efforts with regional counterparts and G7 foreign ministers to address the crisis.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Keir Starmer 50% Ministry of Defence 60% Saudi Arabia ×260% Israel 60% Palestine 60% Yvette Cooper 60% Iran ×470% Dubai ×270% United Arab Emirates ×270% UK ×280% Foreign Office ×490% Middle East ×3100%

Keywords

evacuation 100% middle east 90% british citizens 80% foreign office 70% escalating tensions 60% airspace closure 50% travel advice 50% consular operation 40%