The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) issued an updated ‘Situation in the Middle East’ bulletin on 9 March, reflecting escalating regional tensions after air-strikes on Iran. The notice reiterates a general warning against non-essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan and maintains the highest alert level for Israel, Lebanon and Iran.
According to the FDFA’s crisis unit, some 4,000 Swiss nationals remain registered in Gulf and Levant countries via the Travel Admin app. While a SWISS charter flew 211 passengers from Muscat to Zurich on 5 March and Edelweiss operated two additional flights on 7 March, authorities stressed that further government-organised departures are unlikely. Travellers are instead urged to use commercial options and to keep their digital whereabouts updated for rapid notification of route reopenings.
For Swiss citizens and residents who may suddenly need to reroute through alternative hubs or secure entry to safer neighbouring countries, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The platform’s Swiss portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) provides fast, online visa processing and up-to-date guidance on shifting entry requirements, allowing mobility managers and travellers to adapt itineraries without administrative delays.
![FDFA Updates Middle-East Travel Advice; 4,000 Swiss Nationals Still Seeking Exit]()
The advisory has immediate implications for corporate travellers and assignees. Employers must now demonstrate that trips are ‘mission critical’ or postpone deployments; travel-risk insurers report a spike in pre-trip approval requests. Firms with expatriates in Riyadh, Doha and Dubai are reviewing shelter-in-place protocols and confirming that staff can reach alternative hubs such as Muscat or Athens should airspace closures widen.
Consular officials emphasised personal responsibility under the Swiss Abroad Act but noted that helpline capacity has been doubled, handling over 1,000 calls since Saturday. Mobility managers should brief employees on the limitations of consular evacuation and ensure travellers have flexible tickets and medical contingencies in place.
The FDFA will update the bulletin as new flight corridors open; mobility teams are advised to subscribe to the FDFA RSS feed and mirror alerts into HRIS or traveller-tracking systems to maintain duty-of-care compliance.
According to the FDFA’s crisis unit, some 4,000 Swiss nationals remain registered in Gulf and Levant countries via the Travel Admin app. While a SWISS charter flew 211 passengers from Muscat to Zurich on 5 March and Edelweiss operated two additional flights on 7 March, authorities stressed that further government-organised departures are unlikely. Travellers are instead urged to use commercial options and to keep their digital whereabouts updated for rapid notification of route reopenings.
For Swiss citizens and residents who may suddenly need to reroute through alternative hubs or secure entry to safer neighbouring countries, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. The platform’s Swiss portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) provides fast, online visa processing and up-to-date guidance on shifting entry requirements, allowing mobility managers and travellers to adapt itineraries without administrative delays.
The advisory has immediate implications for corporate travellers and assignees. Employers must now demonstrate that trips are ‘mission critical’ or postpone deployments; travel-risk insurers report a spike in pre-trip approval requests. Firms with expatriates in Riyadh, Doha and Dubai are reviewing shelter-in-place protocols and confirming that staff can reach alternative hubs such as Muscat or Athens should airspace closures widen.
Consular officials emphasised personal responsibility under the Swiss Abroad Act but noted that helpline capacity has been doubled, handling over 1,000 calls since Saturday. Mobility managers should brief employees on the limitations of consular evacuation and ensure travellers have flexible tickets and medical contingencies in place.
The FDFA will update the bulletin as new flight corridors open; mobility teams are advised to subscribe to the FDFA RSS feed and mirror alerts into HRIS or traveller-tracking systems to maintain duty-of-care compliance.
