Middle East conflict travel disruptions and what it means for your travel insurance
The current conflict involving Iran has caused flight cancellations, airspace closures and wider travel disruption across parts of the Middle East.
If your travel plans are affected, it’s important to understand what your travel insurance may cover, your passenger rights, and what steps to take next.
What should I do if my travel plans are affected by the Iran conflict?
If your trip is disrupted, take the following steps:
Check with your airline first for the latest updates or rebooking options
Review your travel insurance policy to see what types of disruption may be covered
Monitor FCDO travel advice before travelling
Keep receipts for any additional costs in case you’re able to claim them back
If you don’t have specialist cover in place, your airline, accommodation provider or tour operator may be able to offer flexible changes or refunds depending on the circumstances.
Will my travel insurance cover disruption caused by the Iran conflict?
Travel insurance usually helps cover unexpected issues like trip cancellations, delays, or emergency accommodation. However, most standard policies don’t cover claims linked to war, conflict, or civil unrest.
Insurance Expert
Our Travel Insurance Expert says
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that travel insurance will cover travellers affected by the current situation in Iran. Most standard policies will not allow claims resulting from events that fall under standard exclusions like war and civil unrest, meaning any disruption-related costs, such as cancelled trips, lost items, emergency accommodation, or medical treatment resulting from the conflict are unlikely to be covered.
Policies taken out before a major event becomes widely known may still provide some protection in certain circumstances, depending on the policy wording. But once an event is considered a known event, insurers typically won’t cover new claims linked to it.
Travellers visiting higher-risk destinations may need specialist high-risk or conflict-zone travel insurance, which specifically covers war-related incidents.
How does FCDO travel advice affect my insurance?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will update its travel advice during international crises and it's important you follow this guidance.
The current travel advice is as follows:
FCDO advice | Countries included |
|---|---|
Advising against all travel to country (or parts of it) | Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen |
Advising essential travel only to country (or parts of it) | Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates |
Countries to check for updates | Cyprus, Oman, Turkmenistan |
Information correct as of 12pm on Friday 6 March 2026
Travelling against FCDO advice can invalidate your travel insurance, meaning you may not be able to claim if something goes wrong.
In serious crises, such as the current situation in Iran, which has prompted updated FCDO warnings, the FCDO will usually coordinate support and evacuation efforts. However, this assistance is not guaranteed and does not replace high-risk travel insurance.
What should I do if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
If disruption affects your journey, contact your airline first.
Under UK and EU passenger rights rules, airlines must offer passengers a full refund or an alternative flight at no extra cost if their flight is cancelled.
If you’re stranded, airlines may also need to provide support such as meals or accommodation while you wait to travel.
As flights are being cancelled and significantly delayed, airlines have legal obligations under UK and EU passenger rights rules to offer either a full refund or to re-route at no additional cost.
However, because conflict-related disruption is usually considered an extraordinary circumstance, airlines generally don’t have to pay additional compensation.
Can I get a refund if FCDO advise against travel?
If you have an upcoming trip to the Middle East region, refunds aren’t always guaranteed.
Refunds are not automatic simply because the FCDO advises against travel. However, many airlines and tour operators will offer refunds or flexible rebooking options if the FCDO formally advises against all travel to a destination.
You should check the terms of their booking and contact their airline, hotel or tour operator to see what options are available. If you've booked an ABTA protected package holiday, you may be able to receive a full refund.
Due to the scale of disruption, changes or refunds may take longer than usual to process.
Can I get more comprehensive cover?
If you're travelling soon and are concerned about unexpected events affecting your plans, some insurers offer Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) cover.
Cancel for Any Reason travel insurance can reimburse around 50–75% of non-refundable trip costs. However, these policies are more expensive and aren’t available from all UK insurers.
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