Aussies rush to book Europe as Middle East travel warnings come down

• The Australian government has downgraded its travel warning for the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and more.
• This is important as Aussies can now be insured when travelling to or through these destinations.
• Discounted flights will not last long, so if you want to make it to Europe this summer, book as soon as possible.

After continued pressure from the Australian travel industry news of a Middle East peace agreement between the USA and Iran, Australia has finally dropped its Smart Traveller warning for the UAE and Qatar.

Middle East airlines account for more than half of all flights to Europe from Australia, so halting stopovers in the UAE and Qatar made a major impact on cruising as the season reaches its high point.

The change immediately sparked a rush of deals for 2026, while flight prices aboard Emirates, Qatar and Etihad were well priced against Asian airlines like Singapore Airlines, which have been filling the gap.

Travel agents reported a flood of phone calls.

Gladis Mahfoud, founder of travel agency Investing in Memories told Cruise Passenger: “With the warnings now being relaxed, I do expect to see an increase in confidence from travellers considering Europe via the Middle East.

Just yesterday I was contacted by several clients who had previously cancelled their European holidays and were looking to rebook.”

However, she stresses the need to get looking for flights quickly, as prices are already heading back up.

“Unfortunately, I was unable to secure the same fares they had originally booked. Airfares, particularly for travel during July and August, appear to have increased significantly and in some cases have nearly doubled as departure dates draw closer.

“For travellers still considering Europe this northern summer, my advice would be to book sooner rather than later. The lower fares that were available during the period of uncertainty may not remain available for much longer as demand returns.”

Shane Black, owner of SW Black travel agency says he expects things to change ‘very quick;y.

” There is some trepidation with clients at the moment with some not entirely certain about the situation in the Middle East. I do expect this to change very quickly so I have been recommending to clients to get in while the fares are still low.

“if they wait, they run the risk of fares increasing rapidly as the lower fares are almost the first to go. There’s still time to enjoy the tail end of the European summer!”

While the warnings still sit at “Reconsider your need to travel”, the significance of this decision is now Australian’s will be able to obtain travel insurance that covers them while in these destinations. Under the previous warning of ‘Do not travel’, the vast majority of Australian insurers will not offer coverage for the time spent in that country.

This news also arrives right as the peak of the European travel season arrives, meaning many Aussies will now feel safer in their booked flights, or will be scrambling to pick up a good fare for a last-minute flight. 

The current UAE travel warning

The travel warning for the UAE now reads: “We’ve reviewed our travel advice for United Arab Emirates (UAE) and have lowered the overall travel advice level. We now advise reconsidering your need to travel due to the unpredictable security situation in the UAE and the region.

“There remains a risk of military action. 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. Monitor developments closely and follow the advice of local authorities. Stay aware of your environment. 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.”

Travel warnings have also been reduced for Israel, Bahrain and Kuwait. Lebanon remains with a ‘Do not travel’ status. 

A ‘welcome move’ says AITA

The Australia Travel Association CEO Dean Long says the move is extremely welcome and will make a big difference for the local industry.

“”This is a sensible and welcome adjustment, and one ATIA has been seeking for some time. For many Australians, these hubs are the connecting points that get them to the UK, Europe, India and Africa. In seeking a travel advisory level commensurate with the reality of travel as a transiting passenger, ATIA was looking to ensure transiting passengers had all the benefits of travel insurance while on the ground.

“Additionally, with 150,000 Australians having safely travelled through those hubs, we wanted to ensure consumer confidence in Smartraveller’s advice remains optimum – travellers were telling our members that the “do not travel” advice for passing through just didn’t seem to hit the right balance.

“Smartraveller is a vital resource and it is important that the advice it carries remains proportionate and current. The Smartraveller program was not designed for a limited conflict at key international hubs. We acknowledge that these decisions are always difficult to get right. 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.”

Get your flights right now

Flights from Australia through the Middle East to Europe have been heavily discounted over recent months, given that the majority of Aussies have been scared off from flying these routes.

Now that the warnings are dropped and the peace deal appears set to go through, these discounted prices will not stick around.

If you can still see good deals, now is the time to go for it. Read here to see what else these updates can mean for travel.

To read about deals, see our story here.