01/06/2026
Would you feel safe transiting through Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi right now?
The Australian Government is under increasing pressure from travel industry leaders to review Smartraveller's current Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advice for major Middle Eastern transit hubs.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) recently became the world's busiest airport by seat capacity, handling 5.5 million seats in January 2026, ahead of Atlanta's 4.9 million. More than 150,000 Australians have travelled through Middle Eastern hubs in the past six weeks, with no major disruptions reported since March 16.
Australia seems to be now an outlier, as most countries have lower travel advisories in place for transit through the region. One proposal is to reduce the advisory for passengers simply transiting through major hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi to Level 3 ("Reconsider Your Need to Travel"), while maintaining Level 4 warnings for destinations directly impacted by ongoing conflicts.
✈️ If you had the choice today, would you feel comfortable transiting through the Middle East on your way to Europe or elsewhere?
✅ Yes, I would travel as normal
⚠️ Yes, but I would be cautious
❌ No, I would avoid the region entirely
Tell us why in the comments.