Middle East airlines offer free travel insurance to encourage visitors
Updated . First published at
With the Middle East still a no-go zone according to Australian government travel warnings, one of the region’s major airlines is offering free insurance to try and lure back international travellers.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi in the UAE, is giving all international visitors flying in on its planes free medical insurance for up to 15 days.
Airlines are trying to encourage visitors back to the UAE with free insurance. AP
The offer runs from next month until December.
While US President Donald Trump says a peace deal has been reached, the region is still under “Do Not Travel” warnings by Smartraveller.
“Any guest flying to Abu Dhabi on an Etihad-operated service, with point of origin and point of sale outside the UAE, is eligible” the airline said.
“Travellers using Etihad’s complimentary Stopover Programme to spend time in Abu Dhabi are also covered for the duration of their stay. Terms and conditions apply.”
The insurance is underwritten and administered by The National Insurance Company – Daman, part of PureHealth, it said.
The region has been targeted in retaliation strikes by Iran.
A hotel and other buildings have been hit in the popular expat nation and thousands of drone and missile attacks have been intercepted by defence systems.
Etihad is planning to give passengers free medical insurance. Supplied
Reports say 12 people have been killed and hundreds injured.
Abu Dhabi had 26.6m visitors in 2025. While authorities have maintained it is safe to travel there, many tourists are avoiding the area.
His Excellency Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said the initiative “ensures we meet that demand with an exceptional, end-to-end visitor experience.”
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “Giving comprehensive medical insurance with every eligible Etihad ticket means our guests can focus entirely on experiencing the extraordinary Emirati hospitality Abu Dhabi has to offer.”
Dubai is home to one of the world's busiest airports. iStock
There are limits to the insurance which Aussie travellers should check carefully.
Emirates, based in Dubai is also looking into ways to encourage travellers back to the region according to The National.
That could include insurance and other incentives.
It would offer to fly people home using other airlines if needed to allay fears that travellers will be stranded if the conflict starts again, the carrier’s president Tim Clark said in an interview, The Financial Times reported.
Dubai is home to one of the world’s busiest airports and usually attracts almost 20m visitors a year.
Some Aussies have continued to fly through the region despite warnings.
Speaking to nine.com.au, they said even though airlines are offering refunds and allowing changes, replacement flights are now too expensive to buy.
Travel bosses have been calling for the red alert to be lifted.
Dean Long, CEO of Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), told Today earlier this month morning they want the government to drop its “Do Not Travel” warnings to the Middle East.
The UAE and Qatar are both listed with Level 4 warnings. Getty
The UAE and Qatar are both listed with Level 4 warnings, which discourage passengers from even just transiting through the airport – a level which Dean says is “unnecessary”.
Since the high alert was instated, “over 150,000 Aussies have gone through the Middle East with no issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has resumed its services to Adelaide from Doha, this week. The route continues onwards to Auckland, New Zealand.
Virgin Australia has also restarted services between Sydney and Melbourne and Doha, operated by Qatar Airways.
The airline’s flights between Brisbane and Perth and Doha operated by Qatar Airways, are planned to restart from 15 September 2026.
