On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) raised travel warnings for six Middle East countries to orange as tensions in the region increased. MOFA strongly urges citizens to avoid travel to the area, closely monitor regional developments, and take personal safety precautions.

MOFA uses a four-tier travel alert system, with advisories classified as gray (low risk), yellow, orange, and red (highest risk).

On Saturday, February 28, MOFA raised the travel warning from orange to red – the highest risk level – for Israel, following Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which is also at red. 

As the situation continues to escalate, the ministry has additionally raised the travel warning for Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman to orange, beginning Sunday, March 1. 

MOFA spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) reminds the public to contact the emergency number for their nearest Taiwanese representative office in case of emergencies for immediate assistance. Families of overseas Taiwanese can also call the MOFA 24/7 toll-free emergency hotline at +886-800-085-095 for assistance.

The ministry urges citizens to avoid travel to the region and high-risk countries like Israel and Iran in the near future. Those already in affected countries are advised to be vigilant, pay attention to their personal safety, and maintain close contact with the nearest Taiwanese mission to stay up-to-date and to receive necessary assistance.

The ministry will continue to closely monitor the situation and maintain close contact with allied countries to ensure the protection of its citizens. Staff in affected areas are advised to take necessary precautions and continuously review and implement appropriate countermeasures based on the latest developments.