Middle East conflict guidance

The situation in the Middle East is evolving, and we understand how concerning this may be.

Below is stepbystep guidance to help you understand what actions you should take and how your Zurich Municipal may respond. Please continue to follow the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice and any instructions from local authorities.

If you need to discuss your specific circumstances, contact us on 0800 028 0336 or info@zurichmunicipal.com and we will guide you through your options.

Our group is currently in the Middle East. Will we still be covered until we can return home?

Yes. Your Zurich Municipal cover remains active while you are on a valid insured trip.

What you should do now:

  • Contact Zurich Travel Assistance (Healix) immediately on +44 (0)1489 868 888
  • Follow the safety guidance and local advice they provide.
  • They will arrange support if required.

As of 9th March 2026, no formal evacuation is required. The Political & Natural Disaster Evacuation section of the policy has not been triggered.

We planned to travel to the Middle East but now need to cancel. Can we make a claim?

You should:

  1. Contact your airline or tour operator first
  2. Tell them there are unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances affecting the destination
  3. Request cancellation under Regulation 12 (7) of the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018
  4. Ask for a full refund, which should be issued within 14 days under Regulations 12 (8) and 14 (3)

If the airline or tour operator cannot confirm a refund or is still deciding:

If you choose to cancel and want us to assess a claim, email us with:

  • Your policy number
  • Planned travel dates
  • Number of travellers
  • Payments made to date and any future payments due

We’ll assess cancellation claims under Cancellation & Curtailment on a case-by-case basis.

We want to change our destination. Will our policy cover the costs?

It depends on your booking terms and the reason for the change.

What you should do:

  1. Contact your airline or tour operator first to request a refund or rebooking
  2. Once they confirm their position, send us the details, and we’ll review whether any costs are covered under your policy

If we still travel to the Middle East despite FCDO warnings, will we be covered?

Travelling against FCDO advice may affect your cover.

What you should do:

  1. Check the latest FCDO guidance before making travel decisions
  2. Contact us before you travel so we can review your circumstances and explain how your cover may be affected
  3. If a claim arises, we’ll assess it according to your policy terms, including any relevant exclusions

Our trip is somewhere else, but we’re transiting through the Middle East. If our flight is disrupted, are we covered?

You should:

  1. Contact your airline or tour operator first to confirm rerouting or refund options
  2. Once they have responded, share their confirmation with us, and we’ll advise you on next steps. Disruption to transit flights may be covered under Cancellation & Curtailment, reviewed casebycase

Our flights have been changed or cancelled due to the conflict, even though our destination isn’t affected. Can we claim?

You should:

  1. Contact your airline or tour operator first about refunds or alternative travel
  2. Once they confirm their position, send us the details, and we’ll review whether any costs are covered under your policy. We’ll assess disruption caused by wider regional impacts individually