Australia lowers travel advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates

Australia has lowered its travel advice for Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, easing each country from Level 4, or “Do Not Travel,” to Level 3, “Reconsider your need to travel.”

The change follows a regional de-escalation after the latest Middle East conflict flare-up. But the warning remains high: DFAT is still urging Australians to postpone non-essential travel and to be cautious about transiting through the area.

What changed

DFAT’s Smartraveller site updated the advice on 17 June 2026 for the five destinations. The downgrade affects Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, all of which had previously been under the strongest travel warning.

Parts of Israel remain at Level 4, and DFAT continues to advise against travel to several other countries in the broader region, including Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

The department says Level 3 is still a high threshold. In practical terms, it means Australians should reconsider whether travel is necessary and think carefully before booking flights that transit through the affected countries.

Why it matters

The downgrade is important for Australians planning holidays, business trips or connecting flights through major Middle East hubs.

Doha and Dubai are key transit points for long-haul travel to Europe and elsewhere, and the lower warning level is expected to improve confidence for some travellers and insurers. Industry coverage has already framed the move as a positive sign for airlines and travel bookings.

A joint ministerial statement attributed to Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said DFAT had assessed conditions in the listed countries and decided it was appropriate to lower the advice.

The warning is not a signal that the region is risk-free. DFAT has indicated that travel advice can rise again quickly if security conditions worsen.

What travellers should do

Australians with upcoming trips are being told to check the latest Smartraveller advice before leaving and to pay close attention to transit plans.

For travellers passing through the region, the key point is that Level 3 still means DFAT wants people to think twice about non-essential travel and to keep transit as short as possible where they do proceed.

The situation remains under review, and further changes are possible if regional tensions shift again.