Opinion: UAE, Qatar & Saudi Arabia Reopen; What It Means for UK Luxury Travellers
Oliver BroadPublished: 19th June 2026
We are happy to see that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has removed its travel warning for the UAE (including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah), Qatar and Saudi Arabia. This follows the lifting of the warning on Jordan a couple of weeks ago.
Demand will no doubt now increase as travellers see these destinations as safer to visit in their own right, and also feel more confident using the major flight hubs – in particular Dubai for Emirates, Doha for Qatar Airways and Abu Dhabi for Etihad.
Your travel insurance should now be valid again when visiting or transiting these destinations, but it is still essential to check your own policy wording carefully.
Tour operators can now return to sending clients there and using these hubs to reach popular holiday spots such as the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Vietnam and other parts of Asia and Australasia.
With all these changes in mind, we take a closer look at what they mean for the luxury traveller and how we expect prices to react in the coming days, weeks and months.
Pricing
Within 30 minutes of the announcement I received a marketing piece in my inbox from a tour operator arranging holidays to the region, offering complimentary excursions for all new bookings made this week. Holiday companies, hoteliers and airlines will understandably want to stimulate demand, so there are likely to be some very attractive prices on the market; but only if you move quickly.
The algorithms that drive dynamic pricing models for hotels and airlines will respond to even small increases in search demand, let alone actual bookings. Prices are likely to rise, but how and when is the interesting part.
First of all, demand for peak times such as Christmas and New Year is already strong, prices are holding firm and are likely to rise further. My fellow MD Nathan booked his own family’s Abu Dhabi New Year trip a few weeks ago while the travel ban was still in place, and the same room is now several times higher than what he paid; still not quite back to pre‑war pricing, but heading in that direction.
For peak dates you really do need to act quickly, especially if you have a first‑choice hotel in mind.
Flexibility and timing
The key is flexibility. Moving your dates by just a few days can often make a significant difference. Watch out for mandatory New Year’s Eve gala dinners, which can sometimes be in the region of £500–£1,000 per person. We are very experienced at working all of this out for you here at RB using our expertise and inside knowledge.
Flight‑wise, airlines have a lot of seats to fill, but they can also add extra capacity when they see demand. They will typically aim to fill one aircraft and then, if booking patterns show strong demand and higher fares, they may add additional flights on that route, at which point prices can suddenly fall again. It is a bit of a cat‑and‑mouse game which is why flexibility is so important.
Premium cabin prices are likely to be quite high to begin with as the travel ban relaxes and demand increases quickly. This is where airlines make much of their profit, so they will want to capitalise on increased demand. In theory, pricing should level off over time as airlines potentially add more capacity. We can do all this hard work for you when putting your luxury holiday together comparing departure points too which can often also make a difference.
Having said that, if you are adamant about travelling from your most convenient airport, then booking early to secure your seats is wise if capacity is lower than from alternative airports.
Stopovers and the Indian Ocean
Consider a stopover too. Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi offer some beautiful places to stay; in the cities, by the beach and out in the desert. A stopover can add significant value to a longer trip to Mauritius or the Maldives. Two holidays in one!
Talking of the Indian Ocean, the islands rely heavily on Middle Eastern airlines for tourism, and destinations such as Mauritius have suffered significantly since March. We are seeing some fantastic pricing for families this summer, sometimes making a tropical island more cost‑effective than two weeks in the Mediterranean.
For example, a holiday for a family of four at Ikos Odisia in Corfu (their newest property) in August will cost around £27,000 for a two‑week package with flights, private transfers and their famous Premium All Inclusive board. Compare this to one of Samuel’s favourite 5‑star all‑inclusive resorts in Mauritius, which he inspected last week and which is perfect for luxury families; the cost comes in at under £12,000! That is over 50% less than Ikos in Corfu, and your little ones get the chance to experience a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. August in Mauritius is really pleasant too, with temperatures usually in the upper 20s, so not as scorching as Greece.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Greece, and it is having a real moment right now (see my other opinion piece here). But it is also our job at RB to highlight the value in the marketplace, and Mauritius in school holidays is definitely worth a mention.
South East Asia
Demand for holidays to South East Asia has been a little flat since the beginning of March. Japan has fared reasonably well, but demand for Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia has suffered. Already some of the best‑value destinations in Asia, now is an excellent time to secure your visit.
The most popular route is into Bangkok as a gateway to the region, so again, think flexibility and consider using other entry points such as Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, all of which connect via the Middle East.
We can also source flight‑inclusive river‑cruise packages on the Mekong, which is a wonderfully relaxing and safe way to see this part of the world. A two‑week land tour with river cruise, including flights, a comprehensive touring programme with some meals and many excursions, is currently around £3,699 per person, down from over £5,000, but again you’ll need to be quick to snap that one up. Dates include January, which is a great time to visit. This is one of my personal favourites having visited a few times, and a firm favourite with RB clients too.
Insurance
Now that the FCDO advice has been relaxed, your travel insurance should once again be valid when travelling to or via the affected areas. Our advice is always to triple‑check this with your insurer and be very clear about what you are and are not covered for. We have a separate blog here which goes into more detail with additional insurance tips and advice.
Safety and reassurance
In our experience, the FCDO does not relax its travel advice without serious consideration, and in fact, some other countries relaxed their own advice several weeks ago. Etihad, Qatar Airways and Emirates have also announced additional insurance and reassurance measures for travellers, included within their flight tickets.
As with all holidays booked via RB, we monitor situations closely and are on hand 24/7 should you need assistance.
Should the FCDO advice change again, you have the peace of mind of knowing your holiday is covered by ATOL and the Package Travel Regulations. If a holiday cannot operate and is cancelled out of your control, you are entitled to a full refund, or we can help with amendments if you prefer.
Read more about how we look after your clients in during times of uncertainty on our blog here.
The FCDO website allows you to set up alerts for each destination so you can be among the first to know if their advice changes. Either way, we are here to help our clients – this is all part of the RB VIP Experience.
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