The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade has issued an urgent travel advisory for Fijian nationals amid a fresh escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, urging citizens to avoid travel to or transit through a broad list of countries and to leave the region as soon as it is safe to do so.
The advisory specifically names Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Yemen, Oman and Cyprus as countries Fijians should not travel to or transit through at this time. The Ministry said the warning follows the recent deterioration in regional security and is intended to limit exposure to unpredictable and quickly changing risks.
Fijians already in the affected states are being encouraged to depart at the earliest safe opportunity. The Ministry noted that commercial air services are beginning to resume in some locations but remain disrupted in others, and advised travellers to confirm flight schedules directly with airlines or travel providers before travelling to airports. Where direct routes are unavailable, nationals should consider alternative travel arrangements but only where those options can be undertaken safely.
The advisory builds on earlier, more localised messages from Fiji’s diplomatic missions. In recent days the Fiji Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Fiji Embassy in Jerusalem issued safety guidance to Fijian residents and workers in their respective areas; the Ministry’s national-level warning expands that guidance to cover additional countries across the wider Middle East and eastern Mediterranean as the security picture worsened.
To help coordinate any government assistance, the Ministry is urging Fijian nationals in the region to register with the Fiji Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Fiji Embassy in Jerusalem so they can be contacted if circumstances change. The Ministry said its joint emergency operations centre is continuing to monitor developments and assess options to assist nationals who may be affected, including consular support and evacuation possibilities where feasible.
The advisory also recognises that movement may not be possible for everyone. “Where airspace remains closed or the security situation prevents safe movement, Fijians should remain where they are and follow the instructions of local authorities,” the Ministry said, adding that it will continue to update advice as conditions evolve.
The new travel warning aligns with similar steps taken by other Pacific governments and diplomatic missions in the region as military exchanges, missile and drone activity and related disruptions have prompted airlines to alter schedules and some countries to heighten security measures. The Ministry emphasised that the situation remains fluid, and urged Fijian nationals and prospective travellers to keep abreast of updates from official sources and their airlines.
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