The global travel landscape has fractured over the last 24 hours. While rapidly escalating conflicts in the Middle East have triggered massive evacuation orders, the U.S. State Department has also issued urgent security updates for highly popular tourist destinations across Europe and the Americas.
Overnight, officials released a massive wave of embassy alerts, triggering everything from sudden flight capacity cuts to strict shelter-in-place directives and demonstration warnings.
If you are currently abroad or heading to the airport this weekend, here is the unfiltered, ground-truth breakdown of what you need to know to navigate these global disruptions safely.
Global Alerts: Europe & The Americas
Before diving into the Middle East restrictions, travelers heading to popular international hubs need to be aware of immediate security threats, protests, and movement bans.
You are now able to sign up to our live Worldwide Travel Alerts by searching your destination here.
- Spain (Barcelona): A massive planned protest is scheduled directly outside the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona on March 21 at 12:00 PM. Expect heavy police presence and massive road closures. Avoid the area entirely.
The live Traveler Safety Index for Spain is currently at 85 showing a stable environment for visitors.
- Belgium: A severe security reminder is active. Authorities are on high alert ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 Brussels terror attacks (March 22), compounded by a recent explosion outside a synagogue in Liege. Keep a low profile in crowded tourist hubs and transit centers.
The live Traveler Safety Index for Belgium is currently at 75 showing an elevated risk for visitors.
- Cuba (Havana): Active demonstration alerts are live. Avoid any protest areas and maintain a low profile if you are in the city. The entire country has been suffering from nationwide blackouts.
The live Traveler Safety Index for Cuba is currently at 68 showing a elevated risk environment for visitors.
- Austria (Vienna): An active demonstration alert has been issued. Travelers are advised to avoid all protest routes and stay away from large crowds.
The live Traveler Safety Index for Austria is currently at 85 showing a stable environment for visitors.
- Bolivia: Strict movement restrictions are coming. A total vehicle ban takes effect on March 22 for Subnational Election Day.
The live Traveler Safety Index for Bolivia is currently at 75 showing a elevated risk for travelers.
- Albania (Tirana): The capital is bracing for a planned protest on Sunday, March 22 at 6:00 PM. Keep your distance.
The live Traveler Safety Index for Albania is currently at 84 showing a very stable environment for visitors.
Travelers are urged to check the Traveler Dashboard daily to see the most recent U.S. Embassy alerts, State Department Travel Advisories and real-time safety scores for your destination.
The Middle East: Evacuations & Flight Closures
The bulk of the overnight alerts heavily focus on extracting citizens and managing severely compromised commercial airspace across the Middle East.
- Israel: Evacuation flight capacity has been slashed. The maximum number of passengers allowed on wide-body flights to the U.S. is now restricted to just 130 people (down from 270), causing immediate cancellations. If you are crossing the Taba border into Egypt, you must bring exactly $115 in physical cash for the new border fees.
The Traveler Safety Index score for Israel has bottomed out at 32 as travelers do not feel safe in the country due to active conflict being the main reported reason.
- United Arab Emirates: Access to the airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is restricted strictly to ticketed, confirmed travelers. Crucial Warning: Taking or sharing video footage of military, drone, or missile incidents in the UAE is illegal and will result in immediate criminal prosecution.
The Traveler Safety Index for Dubai has recovered slightly after bottoming out at 41 last week and rising back to 54 this week. It's still shows as an elevated risk for travelers due to active conflict. Dubai has seen the largest drop in traveler safety sentiment over the past 3 weeks losing over 36 points.
- Kuwait: Commercial flights are completely SUSPENDED. To evacuate, expats must use the “Sahel” app to secure a mandatory exit permit. The Embassy confirmed it will not provide charter buses to the Saudi border.
- Lebanon: Middle East Airlines remains the only commercial exit. Emergency passports are strictly being processed by email appointment only.
- Iraq: Airspace is completely CLOSED. The Embassy warns of a heavy risk of targeted kidnapping. Citizens must evacuate overland.
- Qatar: Public access to the Embassy in Doha is entirely cut off. Travelers are warned to remain highly vigilant against Iranian retaliation targeting Americans.
Strict Lockdowns & Checkpoints
If you cannot safely reach an extraction flight, several nations are under severe movement restrictions due to active military threats and retaliations.
- Saudi Arabia: The Embassy is completely closed through March 24 and has issued a critical warning: the Saudi early warning system for attacks is “not consistently reliable.” Americans are explicitly warned to avoid hotels and the Embassy compound due to active threats.
- Iran: Security forces are actively using unmarked civilian vehicles, like taxis, to set up dangerous “snap checkpoints.” Dual nationals are being specifically targeted, and exit fees are being extorted. Shelter-in-place remains active.
- Bahrain: A strict shelter-in-place order is active. Public gatherings are banned. Similar to the UAE, filming military installations or strikes is considered a criminal offense.
- Oman: The shelter-in-place order is lifted for Muscat, but Embassy staff are confined to a strict 50 km radius. The rest of the country remains under lockdown.
Worldwide Travel Alerts
Overland Border Bottlenecks
As flights are grounded across the region, travelers are being forced into strict overland routes experiencing massive operational changes.
- Jordan: Border hours have been severely restricted. The King Hussein bridge is strictly open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is completely closed on Saturdays. Saudi borders currently remain open 24 hours.