Travel Advisory

Travel Advisory Update: Middle East (Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait) 

Last Updated: 21 June 2026

Great news for those planning or looking to resume travel through the Middle East. New Zealand’s SafeTravel has officially lowered its travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates (including Dubai and Abu Dhabi), Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait from Level 4 ("Do Not Travel") down to Level 2 ("Exercise Increased Caution").

While this change reflects improving conditions and reopens major transit hubs like Doha and Dubai with greater confidence, please remember that the security situation in the region can remain unpredictable.

What This Means For Your Travel Insurance

If you are travelling to or transiting through these destinations, travel insurance options are back in play. Because coverage rules differ depending on your specific policy and provider, here are the main things to keep in mind:

• Existing Policies: If you already hold a travel insurance policy, there is generally no change to your existing terms, and you may not need to take any action.
• New Policies: Standard policy coverage is once again available for purchase for travel to these Level 2 destinations. However, a lower advisory level does not entirely eliminate regional risk.

Important Insurance Limitations to Note:

• War and Armed Conflict Exclusions: General exclusions for war or acts of war remain strictly in place across standard policies. If conflict or war breaks out, you will not be covered for claims arising directly or indirectly from it.
• Airline-Provided Insurance Exceptions: Depending on your airline and your ticket issue date, special airline-provided insurance protections may apply to your journey.
• Emergency Assistance Constraints: An insurer's ability to provide on-the-ground emergency assistance or medical evacuations may be limited if local airspace closes or severe security restrictions are imposed.

Because every insurance provider has different rules regarding transit times, purchase windows, and specific inclusions, we strongly recommend speaking directly with your World Travellers consultant to verify how these updates impact your specific itinerary.

What happens if the advisory level goes back up?

Should SafeTravel increase the advice level back to Level 4 ("Do Not Travel"), standard restrictions will instantly apply to all policies. Typically, there is no cover for cancellation or amendment costs caused by a destination shifting to a "Do Not Travel" status.

However, if you are already in a destination when it changes, you may still have provision to claim for events completely unrelated to the warning (such as lost luggage or an unrelated medical event), which will be assessed under normal policy terms.

Looking to travel to Israel?

Please note that Israel remains at Level 4 ("Do Not Travel") overall. A strict temporary pause on issuing new travel insurance policies for travel to Israel remains in place, and cover cannot be offered for this destination at this time.

Conditions change rapidly. We strongly recommend checking the official NZ SafeTravel website before booking and immediately prior to your departure.

For specific queries regarding your upcoming itinerary and insurance options, please reach out directly to your local World Travellers travel expert.