FBOs at Abeid Amani Karume International HTZA ZNZ

Airport security

Zanzibar City operates under a U.S. Department of State Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory for Tanzania, driven by elevated street crime, civil unrest, terrorism risk, and concerns around targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals; the UK FCDO does not designate Zanzibar itself as an advise-against area, though it specifically documents crime patterns in Stone Town, at hotels, and on tourist beaches.

Violent street crime—including robbery, assault, sexual aggression, and forced ATM withdrawals—is an active and documented risk for foreign visitors to the island.

Civil unrest risk is present, particularly around political events and elections, and historically has affected Zanzibar as well as the mainland.

Abeid Amani Karume International Airport is an international commercial airport serving scheduled regional, European, and Middle Eastern traffic, operated by the Zanzibar Airports Authority under national civil aviation oversight by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority.

No published ICAO USAP result, TSA Last Point of Departure classification, or equivalent official security audit outcome specific to this facility was identified in public sources; for an international commercial airport of this type in Tanzania, the applicable national framework is aligned in principle with ICAO Annex 17 security standards, as evidenced by Tanzania's designation as an ICAO Aviation Security Training Centre host nation.

Operational security depth and resourcing at the facility level should be treated as commensurate with a developing-market international airport rather than assumed equivalent to a high-capacity hub.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

Hours: H24 — the Zanzibar Revenue Authority operates a dedicated 24-hour customs service at ZNZ ZRA is responsible for all customs activities including clearance, duty collection, import/export licensing, and cargo inspection; an online customs clearance system is available; mandatory Zanzibar inbound travel insurance (ZIB) is required of all arriving passengers as of 2026

Ground corridor

• Ground transport risk in Zanzibar is characterized by opportunistic petty crime and road safety concerns rather than armed conflict
• the airport forecourt and immediate surrounds are a known concentration point for unlicensed operators who approach arriving passengers, and the FCDO has recorded forced ATM withdrawal schemes linked to unvetted vehicles hailed on arrival — the airport access road and Stone Town corridor are the primary risk vectors. No ride-share platforms operate on the island, and the unmetered taxi environment means fares are negotiated
• pre-arranged vehicles booked through accommodation or a professional ground support team are strongly advised over approaches made inside or immediately outside the arrivals hall. Road safety standards are below Western norms with a documented upward trend in road traffic incidents in mid-2026, and night-time movement should be minimised. Tanzania carries a US State Department Level 3 advisory (issued October 2025, remaining in effect as of October 2026) citing crime, civil unrest, terrorism risk concentrated in the far-southern Mtwara Region, and targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals
• Zanzibar island itself is assessed as substantially more stable than the mainland, though elevated diligence remains warranted.

City threat summary

Zanzibar City operates under a U.S. Department of State Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) advisory for Tanzania, driven by elevated street crime, civil unrest, terrorism risk, and concerns around targeting of LGBTQ+ individuals; the UK FCDO does not designate Zanzibar itself as an advise-against area, though it specifically documents crime patterns in Stone Town, at hotels, and on tourist beaches.

Violent street crime—including robbery, assault, sexual aggression, and forced ATM withdrawals—is an active and documented risk for foreign visitors to the island.

Civil unrest risk is present, particularly around political events and elections, and historically has affected Zanzibar as well as the mainland.

Country overview

Tanzania's overall threat environment remains elevated following a contested October 2025 general election that triggered post-election unrest, internet shutdowns, and a period of heightened international scrutiny, though the U.S. State Department downgraded its advisory from Level 3 to Level 2 on October 16, 2026, signaling a partial improvement in conditions.

The southern Mtwara region remains a distinct, higher-risk zone where both the U.S. and UK FCDO maintain more restrictive advisories due to ongoing extremist activity near the Mozambique border.

Domestically, the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu on treason charges sustains a backdrop of political tension, particularly around Dar es Salaam, while broader civil liberties concerns and arbitrary law enforcement continue to affect the operating environment.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Arusha HTAR HIGH
• Dar es Salaam HTDA HIGH
• Dodoma HTDO HIGH
• Kilimanjaro HTKJ HIGH
• Mwanza HTMW HIGH
• Zanzibar City HTZA HIGH