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Support and guidance for clients whose travel plans may be impacted by the events in the Middle East

We understand that events in the Middle East and the disruption that is taking place may be unsettling, particularly if you are travelling or preparing for an upcoming trip to the region.

Our priority is to offer clear guidance and support to our clients who may be impacted from a banking and travel perspective, so you can better understand what these developments may mean for you and make informed decisions about your plans.

Latest advice and guidance from the UK Government

As the situation is currently evolving, please ensure you check the latest advice from the UK Government on GOV.UK.

If you’re travelling in the Middle East, please follow the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance which can be found here.

If you have a trip planned

Here is some general guidance for anyone travelling or who may have a trip planned.

Make sure you check the latest UK Government advice before taking any action.
Ideally wait for your airline or tour operator to confirm cancellation before cancelling yourself, as this may affect any refund.
If your flight is cancelled by the airline or tour operator, they can advise you on your options, including refunds or rebooking.
Some travel insurers might need receipts for any essential extra expenses, so please keep these.

If you are already travelling

Please follow the latest advice from the UK Government on GOV.UK, as well as updates from your airline or tour operator, who can give you the most up‑to‑date information about your journey.

Questions about travel insurance

Your airline or tour operator should be your first point of contact, as they can explain how your travel plans are affected.
Many standard travel insurance policies do not cover disruption caused by acts of war or armed conflict.
We recommend checking your policy wording carefully or contacting your insurer directly to confirm what is covered.

If you hold Coutts Travel Protection

If you hold Coutts Travel Protection and need support or advice, please contact Allianz on +44 (0)20 7126 7532 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 6pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm). All calls are recorded for training and monitoring purposes.
Further guidance will be published at coutts.com/ctp.

Using your Coutts cards abroad

You can continue to use your debit and credit cards as normal. To help everything run smoothly:

Please make sure we have your up‑to‑date contact details, in case we need to reach you.
Use secure banking channels to check your balance and transactions while travelling.

If you need access to additional funds

We understand that travel disruption can sometimes lead to unexpected costs. If you need extra support, there are two quick ways you may be able to access additional funds:

Request an urgent credit card limit increase via Coutts 24. If your request is approved, your new limit will be available to use immediately. Standard, non urgent credit card limit increases can continue to be requested via the app.
Apply for an arranged overdraft on your current account. If approved, your overdraft will become available by the next working day.

Be alert to scams

Unfortunately, travel disruption can lead to an increase in fraud. Please:

Only use official airline or travel operator websites.
Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts or calls offering refunds or alternative bookings.
Never share your banking details or security codes with anyone.
Fraudulent Humanitarian Appeals – ensure you verify any charity before donating and only use official platforms.

What more are we doing to help clients

We are monitoring the situation closely and will share further information if there is anything more that may be relevant to you.

If you need further support or reassurance, please contact your Private Banker or speak to Coutts 24 and we will do our best to help you.