Last updated: 19 June 2026. Sources: UK tour operators, the UK FCDO, ABTA, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL) and the Association of British Insurers. Fares are guide prices from fare-comparison sites in late May 2026 and change daily.
Dubai is a favourite summer escape for British families. This year, booking one is more complicated than usual, and it helps to start from the beginning.
This guide explains the whole picture in plain terms: what is going on, whether to book or wait, your refund and insurance rights, and the alternatives if you just want guaranteed sun.
Dubai Holidays from UK in Summer of 2026
Booking Dubai holidays from UK for summer 2026 is straightforward again now the FCDO advisory has lifted. Here is what is going on, from the start.
The situation in one line
A war involving the region began in February 2026, and the FCDO — the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the UK department that issues official travel advice — advised against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, which includes Dubai, before lifting that advisory on 18 June 2026. The UAE now carries no warning against travel, though the FCDO keeps regional-tension guidance in place; you can read the live notice on the FCDO UAE travel advice page.
While that advice stood, major UK holiday firms paused the sale of Dubai package holidays for May, June and July 2026; with the advisory now lifted, operators are reopening UAE bookings.
Is it safe to book a Dubai holiday right now?
On the ground, Dubai itself is calm and running normally. Hotels, malls, beaches and attractions are open, and UAE airspace reopened on 2 May 2026.
The remaining caution is about the wider region, not the city. The FCDO has lifted its UAE advisory but notes the situation stays unpredictable and attacks can resume at short notice.
What the warning means for a holiday
While the advisory stood, the catch was that the FCDO did not define what counts as “essential” travel, which left a holiday inside the group the warning asked to think twice. That trigger no longer applies: the UAE carries no advisory as of 18 June 2026.
It mattered for money too, because many standard travel insurance policies do not cover trips taken against FCDO advice; with no UAE advisory now in force, that trigger no longer applies to new bookings, which we cover in full below.
The budget tool below gives a rough idea of what an independent Dubai trip would cost right now.
Estimate an independent trip
Should You Cancel Your Dubai Holiday, or Book Now?
It depends on your trip. The short version: fixed dates, book now and check insurance; flexible dates, waiting is reasonable; just want sun, look elsewhere.
Your trip is essential or your dates are fixed. Fly independently with Emirates and confirm cover first.
Your dates are flexible. More airlines returning now the advisory is lifted will ease prices.
You only want guaranteed sun well away from any regional tension.
Is it risky to book a last-minute Dubai holiday?
As a package, there is little to book last-minute, since operators paused summer departures. Booking independently is possible, but the real risk is the insurance gap, not the flight, so sort cover before you commit.
Can You Still Book a Dubai Package Holiday?
Yes, for summer. Major UK operators paused the sale of UAE package holidays for May, June and July 2026 while the FCDO advice stood, and some cancelled early-summer departures with full refunds. With the advisory lifted on 18 June 2026, operators are taking UAE bookings again.
First, a quick definition. A package holiday bundles your flights and hotel together from one company, which gives you stronger legal protection than booking the parts separately.
What protects a UK package holiday
- The Package Travel Regulations. UK law that gives you a refund if a package is cancelled, for example where an FCDO warning forces it. ABTA, the UK travel trade body, explains these rights.
- ATOL protection. The Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, run by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, protects packages that include flights if the company fails. See caa.co.uk.
- No fuel surcharges. UK operators have not added fuel surcharges to existing bookings.
With the advisory lifted on 18 June 2026, operators are taking Dubai bookings across the summer. A standard package is the straightforward route back in.
Going to Dubai Independently (Flights and Hotel)
Yes, you can still go. With packages reopening, booking your own flights and hotel is also a simple way to do Dubai holidays from UK right now.
It is straightforward, with one extra step on insurance.
- Flights: Emirates flies direct from six UK airports; Etihad serves nearby Abu Dhabi. Flights included in normal bookings are running.
- Hotels: open and operating normally, from budget to luxury.
- Insurance: with no UAE advisory in force, the against-advice trigger no longer applies; still confirm your cover.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI), the body representing UK insurers, confirms cover differs by policy. Some insurers sell special cover for travel against advice, usually at a higher price.
Will Dubai Holiday Prices Fall? Are Holidays Cheaper Now?
Flight prices are higher than the pre-war norm, not cheaper. Two things have pushed them up: jet fuel costs about twice as much, and there are fewer seats.
Guide prices only, from fare-comparison sites in late May 2026. Fares change daily.
Prices should ease over time, on two conditions: the Strait of Hormuz stays open to keep fuel costs down, and more airlines return to add seats. So Dubai holidays are not cheaper because of the war — if anything the opposite — but the gap should narrow as things settle.
Your Refund, Cancellation and Insurance Rights
If your trip is cancelled, the rules are on your side. The key one is simple: a cancellation tied to FCDO advice means your money back.
If your package is cancelled
Under the UK Package Travel Regulations, if your operator cancels because of the FCDO advice, you are entitled to a full refund. If the warning came after you booked, you can ask for a suitable alternative or a refund. ABTA sets out these rights.
If only your flight is cancelled
Your airline handles a refund or rebooking under UK261, the UK rule on flight refunds. Emirates and Etihad both offer free rebooking or a refund on affected flights.
Does a travel warning guarantee a refund?
Not on its own. A refund right is triggered when your operator or airline cancels, or under your contract terms. An FCDO warning by itself does not force a company to refund a trip that still operates, which is why insurance and flexible terms matter.
Will insurance cover war-related disruption?
The UAE carries no advisory now, so the against-advice gap does not apply to a new UAE trip. Cover still varies between policies, so the ABI point stands: confirm yours in writing first.
Where to Go Instead of Dubai This Summer
If the goal is sun and a pool, three popular destinations sit in the FCDO’s green zones clear of regional tension, so flights and packages run as normal. The UAE now carries no advisory itself, so Dubai is once again on that list too.
None of these replaces Dubai’s mix of city, beach and shopping. They are the easy options if your only goal is a sunny, low-stress break this summer.
With the advisory lifted, Dubai keeps your insurance straightforward and your options open. Watch the FCDO page as the region stays unpredictable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to book a Dubai holiday right now?
On the ground, Dubai is calm and running normally, with hotels, malls, beaches and attractions open, and UAE airspace reopened on 2 May 2026. The FCDO advised against all but essential travel to the UAE earlier in the year but lifted that advisory on 18 June 2026, so the UAE now carries no warning against travel. With no advisory in force, the against-advice insurance trigger no longer applies to new bookings, and UK operators are reopening Dubai packages. Regional tension remains, so confirm your cover and watch the FCDO page, but you can book again.
Should I cancel my Dubai holiday because of the Iran conflict?
There is no advisory reason to cancel now. The FCDO lifted its all but essential travel advisory for the UAE on 18 June 2026, so the UAE carries no warning against travel and the against-advice insurance trigger no longer applies to new bookings. You can travel, flying with Emirates or booking a reopened package, though regional tension remains so confirm your insurance cover in writing first. If your earlier package was cancelled by the operator while the FCDO advice stood, you are entitled to a full refund under the UK Package Travel Regulations, so contact your operator to confirm your options.
Are package holidays to Dubai still operating, and which companies sell them?
Yes. Major UK operators paused the sale of Dubai package holidays for May, June and July 2026 while the FCDO advice stood, and some cancelled early-summer departures with full refunds. With the advisory lifted on 18 June 2026, operators are taking UAE bookings again across the summer. An independent trip with separate flights and a hotel is also available. UK package firms have not added fuel surcharges to existing bookings, and packages remain protected under the Package Travel Regulations and ATOL.
Are flights included in Dubai holidays still running normally?
Flights themselves are running. Emirates flies direct to Dubai from six UK airports and kept operating through the crisis, and Etihad serves nearby Abu Dhabi, so the flight part of a trip is available. The packaged product is reopening too: operators paused selling Dubai holidays for May to July while the FCDO advice stood, and with the advisory lifted on 18 June 2026 the bundled flight-plus-hotel deals are coming back. If you book independently, the flights run as normal; with no UAE advisory in force, confirm your travel insurance still covers the trip.
Are Dubai holidays cheaper because of the war, and will prices fall?
No, they are not cheaper, and in the short term they are dearer. Flight prices are higher than the pre-war norm because jet fuel costs about twice as much and there are fewer seats. A direct economy return from London runs around 450 to 700 pounds now, against roughly 350 pounds before the war. Prices should ease over time if the Strait of Hormuz stays open, keeping fuel costs down, and as more airlines return and add seats. If your dates are flexible, waiting can mean a cheaper trip later in the year.
Can I get a full refund on a Dubai holiday because of the war?
If your operator cancelled your package because of the FCDO advice while it stood, yes. Under the UK Package Travel Regulations, a cancellation entitles you to a full refund, and if a warning came after you booked you can ask for a suitable alternative or a refund. ABTA sets out these rights. A travel warning on its own does not force a refund of a trip that still operates, so the trigger is the operator or airline cancelling. For flights alone, UK261 gives a refund or rebooking. Keep written records of any request.
Will travel insurance cover war-related disruption for Dubai?
It depends on your policy. Many standard policies do not cover travel against FCDO advice, but the FCDO lifted its UAE advisory on 18 June 2026, so the UAE carries no warning and that against-advice gap does not apply to a new UAE trip. The Association of British Insurers confirms cover differs between policies. Phone your insurer, ask whether anything cancels your cover for the UAE, and get the answer in writing before you book. Do not assume you are protected just because you hold a policy.
Is Dubai safe enough for a family holiday right now?
Day to day, Dubai is calm and family attractions are open and running normally. The FCDO lifted its all but essential travel advisory for the UAE on 18 June 2026, so the UAE carries no warning against travel and the insurance complication no longer applies to new bookings. UK operators are reopening family packages. Regional tension remains, so if you want guaranteed, low-stress sun a green-zone destination such as Egypt, Turkey or Cyprus is still simple; either way, confirm your cover in writing first.
Where can I go instead of Dubai this summer?
For guaranteed sun, three popular destinations sit in the FCDO’s green zones: Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, Turkey’s coastal resorts and Cyprus. Flights and package holidays to these run as normal, well clear of regional tension. None matches Dubai’s mix of city, beach and shopping, and the UAE now carries no advisory itself after the FCDO lifted its warning on 18 June 2026, so Dubai is bookable again too. These remain the easy options if your main goal is a sunny, low-stress break.
Is the UK government likely to change its Dubai advice soon?
It already has. The FCDO lifted its all but essential travel advisory for the UAE on 18 June 2026, following a US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed on 17 June that builds on the 8 April 2026 ceasefire, so the UAE now carries no warning against travel. The page still flags regional tension, noting the situation stays unpredictable and attacks can resume at short notice. Turn on email alerts on the FCDO UAE travel advice page so you hear the moment anything changes.
Sources
Sources: UK tour operator travel alerts; ABTA guidance on the Package Travel Regulations; the UK Civil Aviation Authority on ATOL protection; the Association of British Insurers on travel cover; and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for the UAE (advisory against travel lifted 18 June 2026; page current at 19 June 2026).
We update this guide as operators reopen UAE bookings. Always check current terms with your operator and insurer.
Leave a Reply