Is it safe to travel to UAE or Qatar?

What travellers need to know now

Several important Middle Eastern hubs have been flagged by government advisories and airlines have changed schedules amid the regional conflict. Major transit cities that many flyers once treated as reliable stopovers have seen their status shift quickly: some are on official travel warnings and various carriers have reduced or suspended service. Limited repatriation and rescue flights are operating in some cases, but commercial schedules are unstable.

Practical steps to protect your trip and your safety:

• Check official travel advisories from your government and the local embassy webpages; these lists are being updated frequently.
• Contact your airline immediately to understand rebooking, refund, or reroute options—many carriers are offering expanded flexibility for trips affected by the situation.
• Register with your country’s consular service so your government can contact you in an emergency or help arrange repatriation flights.
• Prepare for disruptions: expect longer waits at airports, fewer departures, and the potential need for alternative routings that may be more expensive or longer.

For nonessential travel, consider postponing until the situation stabilises. If you are already in the region and must move on, make contingency plans: confirm onward tickets, have printed and digital copies of travel documents, ensure mobile roaming or an emergency local SIM, and keep enough funds to cover unexpected hotel nights or alternative transport. For essential travel, build flexibility into connections and hold on to receipts—refunds and reimbursements are likely, but processing can be slow.