TUI has issued a travel alert for passengers with flights booked to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar following US-Israeli strikes on Iran at the weekend.

The strikes took place in the early hours of Saturday (February 28) morning in what the US and Israel described as a “pre-emptive” strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons. The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East. Subsequent airspace closures created major disruption for airlines, with almost half of flights scheduled to depart from London Heathrow to destinations in the Middle East being cancelled on Sunday.

The UK Foreign Office has since updated its travel advice to warn against all but essential travel to Israel and Palestine, as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Bahrain.

In response to the Foreign Office office, TUI has issued a travel alert for passengers due to travel to the UAE or Qatar and said it is “closely monitoring the evolving situation” in the Middle East, and some flights have been “impacted”.

The firm has said it will be contacting passengers due to travel to either of these areas up to and including Sunday, March 8, ahead of their departure date to discuss “options”.

In a statement, TUI said: “The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and we are closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and the latest guidance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

“Due to Airspace restrictions in parts of the region, some flights to and from the UK have been impacted and may experience delays and cancellations.

“If you are due to travel on holiday to any destination within these areas up to and including the 8th March, our pre-travel team will be in contact with you ahead of your departure date.

“We are working through bookings in date order and will call you to discuss your options. However, if you would prefer, please call us on 0203 451 2688.

“If you choose to call us, please be aware that we are receiving an exceptional volume of calls and there may be some delay in your call being answered.”

For passengers currently in the UAE or Qatar, TUI said customers should follow Foreign Office advice by remaining indoors and sheltering in place as a precautionary measure.

The firm added: “We kindly ask that you follow local guidance, remain in your hotel or accommodation and avoid any non-essential travel.

“Our teams are working with our airline partners to monitor the situation and make arrangements to bring you back to the UK once it is safe to do so. We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding during this time.”

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British nationals already in Middle Eastern countries are being advised by the Foreign Office to “immediately shelter in place” and have been told to register their presence in the UAE.

Officials are understood to be working on plans for the potential evacuation of more than 100,000 Britons from the Middle East. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated that 102,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region and a total of about 300,000 British citizens are in Gulf countries targeted by Iran.

A handful of flights will bring British nationals stranded in the Middle East back to the UK on Tuesday, but the majority of departures from the region remain cancelled.