Current Updates on the Middle East

Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the situation in the Middle East.

You have planned a trip to Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or Jordan. What should you do?

If you have booked a package trip (e.g. transportation and accommodation), please contact your tour operator directly.

If you booked your flight directly with an airline, contact the airline directly. Most airlines offer free cancellations and rebookings. If a flight cannot be operated, the airfare is generally refunded directly by the airline.

Any additional costs can be submitted for review for departures up to and including 8 March 2026. For departures after 8 March 2026, we ask you to continue to monitor developments.

Due to the current situation, you want to cancel your trip to Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or Jordan. However, your departure is after 8 March 2026. What can you do?

We understand that the current situation is challenging. However, a cancellation made solely as a precaution is not insured. Please continue to monitor the situation. We continuously adjust the period during which cancellations are covered.

You have a planned trip with transit in the Middle East and your flight was cancelled. What should you do?

In principle, transit journeys are excluded from coverage. However, if your return flight is affected, for example due to an airport closure, any costs incurred may still be submitted for review.

Due to the current situation, you want to cancel your trip because you have a transit flight with a stopover in Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or Jordan. However, your departure is after 8 March 2026. What should you do?

We understand that the current situation is challenging. However, a cancellation made solely as a precaution is not insured. Please continue to monitor the situation and check with your airline.

What happens if only individual flight segments (e.g. Tel Aviv – Dubai) are cancelled or changed?

Please contact the tour operator or the airline directly. If you have to cancel your trip due to the cancellation, you can submit the documents for review.

SOS protection during the trip

Are hotel costs covered if, due to a cancelled connecting flight, you cannot continue travelling and have to stay overnight at your location?

If your connecting flight is cancelled due to an airport closure, some of the affected countries have announced that they will cover the additional costs incurred.

You can still submit any costs incurred for review.

You are stuck in Dubai – will you be evacuated?

At present, the FDFA is not organising evacuation flights. Please follow the instructions of the Swiss federal government and the local authorities.

You can find the latest information on the website of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA): www.eda.admin.ch.

Does the insurance cover additional costs (hotel, transport) if you have to depart earlier?

If you are in a country for which the FDFA has newly issued a travel warning, you can submit any costs incurred for review.