The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday announced a travel ban preventing Emirati nationals from visiting Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, citing escalating regional tensions linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

According to AFP, the move comes amid heightened insecurity following a prolonged crisis triggered by a United States and Israeli military action, which has drawn retaliatory responses across the region.

During the conflict, Iran launched attacks targeting the Gulf nation, including missile strikes aimed at civilian areas and critical energy infrastructure, further deepening concerns over the safety of citizens abroad.

“In light of current regional developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announces a travel ban on UAE nationals travelling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq,” the state news agency Emirates News Agency reported.

The ministry also urged Emirati citizens currently residing or visiting the affected countries to take immediate action to ensure their safety, stressing the urgency of leaving those territories. It said the ministry called on “all UAE nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return” to the UAE.

The announcement underscores growing anxieties among Gulf states over the widening scope of the Middle East crisis, despite the declaration of a fragile ceasefire, as governments take precautionary measures to safeguard their citizens from potential fallout.