MIDDLE EAST: Australia eases travel warnings for key Gulf transit hubs

Australian travellers heading to Europe, the UK or Africa via the Middle East have been handed some qualified good news.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Smartraveller advice website have lowered advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Level 4, “Do not travel”, to Level 3, “Reconsider your need to travel”.

For Australians, that affects countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. That puts Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the major hubs for Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad, back as possible and insurable transit options.

But Level 3 is not a green light. It’s more amber cautioning you to think carefully, check your insurance, keep your transit short, and stay alert for sudden changes.

Australians now have more options

Many Australians travelling to Europe, the UK, and Africa rely on one-stop flights through the Gulf. When DFAT lifted advice to Level 4, those routings became problematic, not just because of safety concerns but because of travel insurance.

Some policies limit or exclude cover if you travel to, or transit through, a country after DFAT has issued a “Do not travel” warning. The move back to Level 3 may make Gulf connections viable again for some travellers, but it does not automatically restore cover.

So check your policy wording and get confirmation from your insurer before travelling.

Transit still counts

DFAT makes it clear that “Reconsider your need to travel” also applies to transit.

That matters if you are simply changing aircraft in Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. You may not be entering the country in any meaningful holiday sense, but from a travel-advice and insurance perspective, you are still exposed to that destination.

Smartraveller advises keeping transit times as short as possible and avoiding unnecessary activities.

Countries still on the no-go list

DFAT still advises Australians not to travel to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia remain at Level 3 — “Reconsider your need to travel”, which puts airlines like Oman Air and Royal Jordanian on the agenda.

Some areas within Israel also remain at Level 4, despite the broader advice for Israel being lowered.

In practice, this means you need to check the level for every country in your itinerary. That includes transit hubs, stopovers and any overland travel.

Flights

Expect airlines to continue adjusting schedules, routings and airspace use at short notice. That can affect Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad and other carriers operating between Australia and Europe.

Travellers should keep an eye on bookings, allow extra time before cruises, tours or separate onward tickets, and avoid tight same-day connections where possible.

It’s likely that fares through the Gulf states will get even more attractive as the affected carriers try to reclaim some of their market share. It’s a good time to shop for bargains. But check the fare’s refundability provisions should things change. Despite the framework agreement between the US and Iran, there is still much to be settled. The region could remain unpredictable for some time.

Advice

This is my personal advice to travellers:

• Check Smartraveller before booking and again before departure. Register or subscribe for updates if you are travelling soon.
• Read your travel insurance policy, especially around DFAT Level 3 and Level 4 destinations. Ask whether transit is covered.
• Keep Gulf transit times short where possible. Avoid unnecessary stopovers.
• Book flexible fares where the price difference is sensible.
• Make sure your airline and travel agent have your current contact details.

These may sound obvious, but we often avoid facing the scary bits when overwhelmed by the excitement of travel

2PAXfly Takeout

It’s good that Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad are back as possible carriers to take you to Europe, the UK and Africa. It may also help travellers whose insurance was affected by the earlier “Do not travel” warning.

But this conflict is a long way from being over. By all means, search for some bargains. I will be. But remember it could still all go pear-shaped again, so plan accordingly.