Australia downgrades travel advice to Middle Eastern countries
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The government has officially downgraded its travel warning for Aussies travelling to and through the Middle East, but said it still recommends against non-essential travel.
Sharing an update on Wednesday, the travel advice for major transport hubs in the Middle East was changed from a Level 4 “do not travel” to a Level 3 “reconsider your need for travel”.
Travel to the Middle East has been downgraded from Level 4 to Level 3. Getty
“We’ve reviewed our travel advice for United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have lowered the overall travel advice level,” the update on June 17 read.
“We now advise reconsider your need to travel due to the unpredictable security situation in the UAE and the region.”
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade guidance for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, and Qatar has also been eased from “Do Not Travel” (Level 4) to “Reconsider your need to travel” (Level 3).
Some areas within Israel remain “Do Not Travel”.
The move comes after US President Donald Trump announced a signed agreement between the US and Iran to end the conflict in the Gulf.
In a joint statement, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlewaite said the US-Iran peace deal is welcome, but the situation in the region could rapidly change.
“Level 3 remains a high threshold. We continue to urge Australians to postpone non-essential travel.
“‘Reconsider your need to travel’ also means ‘reconsider your need to transit’. If you need to transit these locations, stay as short a time as possible and eliminate unnecessary activities.”
The Middle East is home to several major transport hubs including Hamad Airport in Doha. iStock
Dubai is home to one of the world’s busiest airports and usually attracts almost 20 million visitors a year.
Advice for Qatar – home to Doha’s Hamad International Airport – now reads: “We’ve reviewed our travel advice for Qatar and have lowered the overall travel advice level.”
Abu Dhabi had 26.6 million visitors in 2025.
The changes clear a major hurdle for the region’s main carriers – Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – after some had announced plans to offer free medical travel insurance to travellers in a bid to entice travellers despite the warnings.
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) called the changes a “win for travellers”.
“This is a sensible and welcome adjustment, and one ATIA has been seeking for some time,” AITA CEO Dean Long said in a statement.
“For many Australians, these hubs are the connecting points that get them to the UK, Europe, India and Africa.”
Dubai has the world's busiest airport. Getty
More than 150,000 Australians have transited through the region in the past six weeks alone.
ATIA said it has worked constructively with the Australian Government, DFAT, and Smartraveller to ensure travel advice reflects both the risks on the ground and the practical realities facing Australian travellers, particularly those transiting.
“Smartraveller is a vital resource and it is important that the advice it carries remains proportionate and current,” Dean said.
“Today’s decision strikes the right balance between the security advice and ensuring travellers can have sufficient and comprehensive insurance protection as they travel through.”
The government warned a risk of military action remains.
“Follow local warning systems and, if warned of an imminent attack, move to an enclosed hardened shelter. If these are not available, seek an inner room without windows,” the advice continued.
“UAE airspace may open or close at short notice, impacting flights at Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airports. Check the status of any border crossing before you travel by air, land or sea.”
The change comes just ahead of the busy northern summer travel season.
Experts had called on the government to update the warnings last week, maintaining that it is still safe to transit through hubs like Dubai and Doha.
In a Level 4 country, travellers wouldn’t be covered by travel insurance.
The Insurance Council of Australia warned that war is a standard exclusion on most travel policies, so any Aussies who go to the affected countries would not be covered.
A recent Finder survey revealed 26 per cent of Aussies said they have cancelled or postponed a trip due to the war in the Middle East.
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