by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 9:50 AM ET, Mon July 20, 2026
The Government of Canada has revised its travel advisories for several countries in the Persian Gulf Region and for Jordan.
Over the weekend, Global Affairs moved the risk warning for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates from yellow/exercise a high degree of caution to orange/avoid all non-essential travel.Saudi and Jordan also have regional advisories for border areas where all travel should be avoided.
It is at this orange level that some travel insurance policies will consider a client to be “travelling against government advice.” Encourage clients to contact their insurer to verify if their coverage will still be valid if they are travelling to one of the affected countries.
Previously, the federal government had added a section entitled “Tensions in the Middle East”
to each of these countries’ travel advice pages. It states that the “security situation remains volatile following recent military activity in the region,” that targets in the country have been hit by “Missiles, drones and other projectiles,” and that military activity in the region could resume on short notice and cause travel disruptions, including flight cancellations.”
People were reminded that “filming, taking photos and online sharing of images of military installations, activity or damage could lead to severe penalties pursuant to the enforcement of local laws and regulations across the region.”
Additionally, Canadians in the area were advised to prepare contingency plans that “don’t rely on the Government of Canada’s assistance for departure.”
On the travel page for Jordan, Global Affairs also chose to share a U.S. security alert issued yesterday (July 19, 2026 by the U.S. Embassy in Jordan. “Due to a specific and credible threat, Jordanian authorities evacuated the international airport and seaport in Aqaba. We strongly advise all Americans to refrain [from] travelling to either the airport or seaport. Continue to follow all Jordanian authorities’ security directives.
U.S. Embassy Amman continues to advise all Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan.”
Following a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S., some tourism operators were hopeful visitation to these countries might resume in more fulsome numbers. G Adventures had recently announced a return to Jordan for its tours after a three-month hiatus. The return was originally slated for August. 1, 2026.
Related: G Adventures Resumes Jordan Tours After Three-Month Pause
Presently, the Canadian government advises those in the area to:
- Be vigilant and follow the instructions of local authorities at all times.
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Be prepared to shelter in place if instructed to do so.
Ensure that your travel documents and those of your family are up to date.
Monitor local and international media to stay informed of the rapidly evolving situation.
Sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive important additional information, specific to your location.
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