The Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has issued a travel advisory warning Fijian nationals to avoid travel to the Middle East after a fresh escalation of hostilities in the region. The advisory, released Tuesday, strongly recommends that Fijians refrain from travelling to or transiting through a wide list of countries and urges those already in the region to leave “as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The ministry names Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Yemen, Oman and Cyprus in the advisory. It tells Fijians currently visiting or travelling in the region to use available commercial flight services to depart where those services are operating, and to consider alternative travel routes if direct flights are unavailable.
Travellers are also urged to confirm flight status with their airline or travel provider before travelling to airports, reflecting ongoing disruptions to air services across parts of the Middle East. The advisory warns that where airspace is closed or the security situation makes travel unsafe, Fijians should remain in secure locations and follow local authorities’ instructions.
To maintain contact and facilitate assistance, the ministry encourages Fijian nationals in the region to register with Fiji’s diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi or Jerusalem. The advisory repeats earlier embassy guidance for those in Israel, where a prior embassy notice had advised sheltering and preparation amid heightened missile and drone activity; at that time the embassy reported Fijians in Israel remained safe.
The ministry says its joint Emergency Operations Centre is closely monitoring developments and is “exploring all available options” to support Fijian nationals affected by the situation. The statement did not spell out specific evacuation plans but signalled ongoing coordination to determine how best to assist citizens if circumstances worsen.
This advisory marks a broadening and formalisation of Fiji’s response to the region’s instability. Earlier notes from Fiji’s embassy in Jerusalem and reporting by neighbouring countries had focused on localized precautions and contingency measures; Tuesday’s ministry advisory expands the geographic scope and elevates the government’s public guidance to encompass multiple states across the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade said it will continue to monitor events closely and provide updates as necessary. Fijians planning travel to or through the listed countries are advised to heed the guidance until the ministry issues further notice.
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