Information for Finnish travellers in the Middle East

The security situation in the Middle East remains fragile. It is difficult to assess how long it will continue.

This notice was originally published on 1 March, and is updated as the situation develops, most recently on 13 July.

Instructions for those in the region

If you are in the Middle East, submit a travel notification and inform your family of your situation if necessary. Please update your travel notification if your return date changes.

If your flight is cancelled, contact your travel organiser or airline to arrange your return journey. In an emergency, contact the Foreign Ministry's 24-hour number: +358 9 1605 5555 (phone calls are recorded).

Follow the instructions of local authorities and rely on information from trusted sources. Local authorities are responsible for operational guidance in their respective areas.

Here you can find the contact information of the health and wellbeing services provided by Vantaa and Kerava for Finnish citizens returning from the Middle East (PDF, in Finnish and Swedish)

Flight connections and departing the region

Changes in the security situation may affect the availability of commercial flights. You should monitor the availability of departing flights directly on the airlines’ websites. Until the regional situation stabilizes, commercial flights may be suspended without prior notice. Be prepared for delays and cancellations, and for the possibility of having to change your original flight route or travel plans.

How the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland’s missions abroad are assisting Finnish citizens in the region

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs maintains close contact with Finland’s missions in the region and is monitoring developments in the situation.

Travel advisories are monitored continuously and updated when necessary. Determining the security level is not a mechanical process; it is always based on an overall assessment. The assessment considers, among other things, the scale and severity of risks to travellers, the capacity of local authorities to respond, and the predictability of the security environment. Any changes in advisory levels are also coordinated with the Nordic countries and other EU Member States.