Middle East conflict

We understand that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East may be worrying, especially if you have a trip planned or are already travelling. This page explains what you need to know about your travel insurance cover and the support available to you. 

There is currently a large-scale conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which has led to missile and drone attacks in parts of the Middle East. Some airlines have cancelled flights or changed routes to avoid affected airspace.

If your travel plans are disrupted, your airline or travel provider should be your first point of contact. Please be assured that we are closely monitoring events and your safety and wellbeing remain our absolute priority.

We have automatically extended cover, free of charge, for all customers who were in the region when the conflict began.  

If you have an active Staysure Signature policy, or have a Basic or Comprehensive policy with a Travel Disruption Extension add-on, and you bought your policy before the 28th February when the war became known, you will be covered for cancellation and curtailment (cutting short) of affected travel plans. No cover is provided for travel after 28th February, unless you were already in the affected region when the FCDO’s advice changed. Please see below for more details.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises:

• Against all travel to Israel & Iran
• Against all but essential travel to:
  • Bahrain
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Qatar
  • United Arab Emirates 

Travel advice can change quickly, so we recommend checking the latest updates before you travel. If you choose to travel to a destination where the FCDO advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, your policy will not cover you. You can find the latest travel advice from the foreign office here: Foreign Office travel advice updates - GOV.UK

If you are already in the Middle East
 

1. If you are unable to return to the UK due to cancelled or disrupted flights, your policy will be automatically extended until you are able to return home. Please note you must take the first opportunity you are presented with to return home. There is no need to contact us to extend your policy, this includes if your policy has already ended, due to end shortly or you have exceeded your trip limits - the extension will be applied automatically.
2. You should regularly check the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website for the latest travel and safety advice, plus destination-specific updates.
3. If your trip is affected – for example, if you are unable to return home on your planned date due to flight cancellation or disruption – please contact your airline, tour operator, or travel provider
4. For any medical emergencies please contact our dedicated assistance team, available 24/7 on +44 1403 288 414.

If you are preparing to travel to the Middle East, or have plans in the future, please take the following steps before your departure.

1. Please regularly check the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website for the latest travel and safety advice, plus destination-specific updates. Do not travel to any destination within the region if the FCDO have advised against all or all but essential travel. Your policy will not cover you if you travel against FCDO advice.
2. If your holiday has been cancelled, please contact your tour operator, holiday company or airline in the first instance.
3. For customers who have added the Travel Disruption Extension, or customers who have Signature Policies (whereby Travel Disruption Extension is automatically included as standard) there is cover to cancel a trip following a change in FCDO advice prohibiting travel or recommending evacuation from a specific country or area. You can make a claim using our claim portal which is available 24/7.
4. Please note that the Travel Disruption Extension cannot be added to your policy to provide cover for this event, as it is now considered a known event. No cover will be provided under this add-on if the Travel Disruption Extension is purchased on or after 28 February 2026.
5. If you have a Signature annual multi-trip, or an annual multi-trip policy with our Travel Disruption Extension cover add-on, and your policy is due for renewal, renewing like-for-like will ensure your cover continues to protect you against the Middle East conflict and any planned upcoming trips.

Rearranging your holiday

If you decide to rearrange your holiday, you can update your insurance policy to cover the new trip if it is within 18 months of when you purchased the initial policy. Any changes to your policy may affect the price and you may be charged an admin fee. Please be aware that your policy won’t cover you for any costs incurred in rearranging a trip, so it’s best to speak to your travel provider first to find out what options are available to you.