22/06/2026
You may have seen recent media coverage regarding the Australian Government's decision to lower its travel advice for a number of Middle East destinations, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, from "Do Not Travel" to "Reconsider Your Need to Travel."
For many travellers, including some of you, this is a welcome and encouraging development, particularly for those travelling through major transit hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
The change means that travel through these destinations is no longer subject to the highest level of DFAT travel advisory. Importantly, these major hubs have continued to operate throughout this period, with airlines maintaining services and millions of passengers continuing to transit through the region. Travel across most destinations outside of the Middle East has also continued largely as normal.
One area that has generated a lot of questions is travel insurance.
Whilst every travel insurance policy contains limits, exclusions and circumstances that may not be covered, the reduction in DFAT's advisory level is generally viewed as a positive step for travellers. In many cases, the automatic restrictions or limitations that can apply when a destination is subject to a "Do Not Travel" warning may no longer be relevant. However, travel insurance policies differ significantly between providers. For that reason, we strongly recommend that travellers contact their insurer directly to understand exactly what cover applies to their individual circumstances.
Looking ahead
Overall, this announcement provides greater certainty for many travellers and reflects the fact that conditions in these transit hubs have remained stable enough for the Australian Government to revise its advice. As always, travel advice can change quickly and every itinerary is unique.
If you have any questions about an upcoming trip I’ve arranged for you, or would like to discuss your options for new travel plans, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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And, as always, if you have friends, family members or colleagues who would benefit from having an experienced travel advisor in their corner please pass on my details.
