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BREAKING: Australia lowers travel warning for Middle Eastern countries

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
In big news, the Australian government has officially changed its travel advice for five Middle Eastern countries from ‘do not travel’ (Level 4) to ‘reconsider your need to travel’ (Level 3). Here’s what it means for travellers.

Australia has downgraded its travel advice for five Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. However, some areas within Israel remain a ‘do not travel status’.

The announcement comes ahead of the USA and Iran’s formal signing of a peace deal on Friday, and is expected to have a significant positive impact on travellers’ confidence.

In a joint media release published this morning, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said that, while the security situation in the Middle East could rapidly change or decline, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has assessed the conditions and judged it appropriate to change Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to a Level 3 or ‘reconsider your need to travel’.

What does this mean for travellers?

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The announcement comes ahead of the formal signing of a peace deal between the USA and Iran. (Credit: Unsplash/Kit Formerley Convertkit)

With Level 4 locations highly unlikely to be covered by travel insurers, travellers from Australia can now travel through and to the Arabian Peninsula with travel insurance protection. The change clears a major hurdle for Australians transiting through the Middle East to reach the United Kingdom, Europe, India and Africa. These travellers will no longer face some of the complications that the Level 4 warning created for transit travel, particularly those related to insurance.

As a result, we may soon be seeing a surge in travellers finally setting off on the trips they have been postponing as a result of the Middle East conflict.

There could also be some welcome relief for travellers’ wallets. Middle Eastern carriers such as Qatar Airways and Emirates account for a significant share of Australia–Europe/UK flight capacity, and when concerns about regional conflict prompted many travellers to avoid Gulf transit hubs, demand shifted to alternative routes via Singapore, Bangkok and other Asian cities. This meant prices for flights transiting through Asia increased. As confidence in those Middle Eastern connections returns, increased competition between airlines could help keep a lid on airfares – particularly on popular Europe-bound routes.

middle east travel
The change in travel advice could see a surge in travellers’ confidence. (Credit: Unsplash/Rocker Sta)

Smartraveller states that Level 3 or ‘reconsider your need to travel’ means avoiding or postponing non-essential travel, and taking extra precautions to protect yourself against security and health risks. These destinations are still classed as unstable, with DFAT warning that circumstances can shift abruptly.

The government urges travellers to obtain travel insurance and ensure they have carefully read the product conditions so they understand what is and isn’t covered. Not all travel insurance policies may cover Level 3 locations.

DFAT continues to advise ‘do not travel’ to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen, and ‘reconsider your need to travel’ to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The body will continue to monitor the conditions closely and keep all Smartraveller advisories under review.

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

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    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

    BREAKING: Australia lowers travel warning for Middle Eastern countries - International Traveller