NEWS

(Lebanon, NH – March 6, 2026) – Growing concerns about safety, instability and unpredictability in international travel are driving a significant increase in Global Rescue security membership purchases in early 2026. From January 1 through March 5, security + travel membership purchases increased 29% compared to the same period in 2025.

The surge reflects a broader shift in traveler behavior as individuals seek professional security support and crisis response capabilities before traveling internationally. The purchasing trend aligns with findings from the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, which shows that most travelers expect international travel in 2026 to be more dangerous or increasingly unpredictable compared to pre-2020 conditions.

According to the survey, 38% of travelers say international travel danger in 2026 will be unpredictable and 36% believe it will be more dangerous. Only 1% believe international travel will be less dangerous.

“Travelers are clearly signaling that uncertainty and instability are influencing how they plan international trips,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. “More people want professional support behind them before they travel — access to intelligence, crisis response teams and the ability to get help quickly if conditions deteriorate.”

“These perceptions are shaping behavior,” Richards said. “Travelers are not necessarily staying home, but they are becoming more deliberate about preparation and risk management. Security memberships provide a safety net that gives travelers direct access to experienced security professionals when situations become volatile.”

Global Rescue’s Security Membership includes:

• 24/7 access to teams of military special operations veterans and intelligence experts
• Real-time alerts and destination-specific security advisories
• Emergency response and extraction services during conflict, civil unrest and security crises

“Travelers are seeing increasing headlines about conflict, political instability and security threats in multiple regions,” Richards said. “In that environment, having a professional crisis response capability is becoming an essential part of international travel planning.”

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue surveyed more than 1,300 current and former members between January 13–17, 2026. Respondents shared their attitudes, behaviors and preferences related to travel safety, technology and global mobility.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

[Lebanon, NH – March 3, 2026] — As US and Israeli combat operations against Iran continue and Tehran intensifies its retaliatory actions across the region, Global Rescue is advising international travelers to postpone travel to the Middle East and urging those currently in affected countries to follow US Department of State guidance and shelter in place. The rapidly evolving conflict has resulted in missile and drone strikes, air defense interceptions, infrastructure damage, and civilian casualties across Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Maritime security has also deteriorated, with major global shipping firms suspending operations in the Strait of Hormuz due to heightened risk.

“Travel to or through the Middle East right now carries elevated and unpredictable risk,” said Kent Webber, senior manager of Intelligence Services at Global Rescue and former Senior Intelligence Operations Officer in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence at the United States Pentagon. “We are advising travelers to postpone non-essential travel to the region and to carefully evaluate whether their presence is mission-critical. The operating environment is fluid, and conditions can deteriorate with little or no warning.”

International Traveler Guidance

Global Rescue recommends that members and clients planning travel to the Middle East — including those transiting regional hubs en route to other destinations — consider postponing their trips until the security situation stabilizes and commercial aviation operations normalize.

“Travelers must weigh the essential nature of their trip against the real possibility of being stranded due to airspace closures, airport shutdowns, or cascading flight cancellations,” Webber said. “Even where airports remain technically open, flight schedules are severely disrupted, and onward connections may not be reliable.”

For travelers already in the region, Global Rescue strongly recommends adhering to embassy and host-nation guidance.

“Members and clients currently in affected countries should heed official instructions to shelter in place, maintain a low profile, and avoid unnecessary movement,” Webber said. “While belligerents are not expected to deliberately target civilians, the risk of collateral damage from missile, drone, and air defense activity is significant.”

Webber also emphasized the importance of preparedness.

“Travelers should ensure they have access to secure shelter, sufficient food, water, medications, and valid travel documents in the event of a sudden departure window,” he said. “When commercial options become available, those who can safely depart should consider doing so without delay.”

Widespread Airspace Closures and Airport Disruptions

Regional airspace restrictions are severely impacting commercial aviation. Flight operations are currently suspended at major airports including:

• Bahrain International Airport (BAH)
• Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
• Baghdad International Airport (BGW)
• Erbil International Airport (EIA)
• Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)
• Hamad International Airport (DOH)

Other key hubs, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), Zayed International Airport (AUH), Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), Muscat International Airport (MCT), and Amman Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), are operating on a limited or irregular basis. Kuwait International Airport (KWI) is experiencing delays, and operational status remains uncertain.

“These closures and limitations create a cascading disruption across global aviation networks, not just within the Middle East,” Webber said. “Travelers transiting the region for Europe, Asia, or Africa should anticipate rerouting, extended delays, and potential cancellations.”

Regional Volatility and Strategic Risk

The security environment remains highly volatile. Recent developments include confirmed missile and drone interceptions in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE; ballistic missile impacts in multiple locations in Israel; renewed airstrikes in and around Tehran; strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon; damage to Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery; and the suspension of commercial maritime operations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Land border crossings in some areas remain open but are subject to abrupt closure, heightened security screening, and evolving entry restrictions. Several US embassies across the region have suspended routine consular services, and multiple diplomatic missions have directed personnel and US citizens to shelter in place.

“This is a multi-domain conflict environment involving air, missile, drone, and maritime threats,” Webber said. “The breadth of activity increases the probability of unintended escalation and incidental exposure to risk for travelers, even in locations not directly targeted.”

Global Rescue continues to monitor developments in real time and provide intelligence updates, advisory support, and operational planning assistance to members and enterprise clients worldwide.

For more information:

Bill McIntyre | +1 (202) 560-1195 | bmcintyre@globalrescue.com

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue delivers integrated intelligence, advisory, field rescue, and crisis response solutions to clients operating in complex and high-risk environments worldwide.

(Lebanon, NH — February 28, 2026) — Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation, and travel risk management services, is actively providing real-time advisory support for international business and leisure travelers affected by the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The conflict has triggered widespread disruption across the Middle East. Several countries — including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — have closed their airspace to civilian traffic. In other locations, flight operations have ceased despite technically open airspace, stranding travelers and complicating regional mobility.

Global Rescue security operations teams are responding with intelligence monitoring, direct member advisory support and potential extraction planning. “Depending on location and threat conditions, security experts are leveraging secure ground transport and alternative routing options to relocate travelers to safer areas when feasible,” said Fernando Lopez Medina, security operations supervisor at Global Rescue and a former US Army Special Forces Green Beret.

“We are operating in a highly dynamic and dangerous environment, leveraging every available resource to reach and safeguard those impacted by the conflict,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. “With multiple airspace closures and rapidly shifting threat vectors, our teams are delivering real-time intelligence, operational coordination, and, where conditions permit, secure movement out of high-risk zones.”

The latest escalation follows direct exchanges of drone, missile, and aerial strikes between Israel and Iran, significantly elevating regional threat levels and increasing the risk of collateral exposure to civilian populations and international travelers. Retaliatory actions and countermeasures have created a volatile and fluid security environment with little advance warning of additional strikes.

“Our mission is to keep people out of harm’s way — safely and quickly,” Richards said. “The closure of major air corridors and the potential for further retaliatory attacks require disciplined risk assessment and operational flexibility. We are adapting continuously to evolving security conditions to protect our members.”

For travelers currently in affected areas, Global Rescue is advising sheltering in place until conditions stabilize.

“In active conflict zones where airspace is closed and retaliatory strikes remain a credible threat, the safest immediate course of action is often to shelter in place,” Medina said. “Ground evacuation options may exist depending on specific location and timing, but unnecessary movement can increase exposure to harm if additional strikes occur.”

For those with upcoming travel scheduled to the region, Global Rescue recommends postponement.

“We are advising travelers with planned itineraries to reschedule travel to the region until the security environment stabilizes,” Richards said. “We continue to monitor developments closely and will reassess extraction and movement options as conditions evolve.”

Global Rescue has activated emergency response protocols and continues 24/7 intelligence monitoring across the region. Services include continuous threat assessments, destination-specific security briefings, emergency action planning, secure communications, and coordinated evacuation when operationally viable.

Due to the sensitive nature of these operations and the inherent risks associated with active conflict zones, Global Rescue cannot disclose specific extraction details or the identities of individuals receiving assistance.

Contact:

Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560-1195.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation, and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments, and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue has supported clients through every major global crisis over the past two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.