The United States has updated its travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates, keeping the country at Level 3 — “Reconsider Travel” — due to terrorism and armed conflict. The update of 23 October 2026 did not change the advisory level or its risk indicators; only the summary was updated, to reflect the threat of increased Iranian-supported Houthi regional aggression. Reports that the UAE was raised to Level 3 in October 2026 are therefore incorrect.

What the updated summary warns about

Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions, with potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area. The advisory warns of terrorist violence with little or no warning, including at tourist locations, transport hubs, shopping areas, government facilities, places of worship, and in particular locations associated with Jewish and Israeli communities.

Practical notes for travellers

US government employees in the UAE need special authorization to travel to military bases and critical energy infrastructure sites. The advisory also flags an FAA NOTAM/SFAR risk for civil aviation in or near the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, including the UAE, and recommends enrolment in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Travellers should read the full advisory before travelling, as conditions and guidance can change.

Source: US Embassy & Consulate in the UAE (official reproduction of the State Department advisory). Note: this article is verified against the official embassy reproduction of the advisory; a direct travel.state.gov page fetch was not separately completed.