June 2, 2026, 2:02 pm | Read time: 7 minutes

Since the outbreak of war between Israel and the U.S. against Iran at the end of February, travel warnings have been in place for several countries in the region. In addition to the two Middle Eastern warring parties, Gulf states were also listed after Iran targeted locations in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman, among others. Most travel warnings have since been lifted. However, the Foreign Office still strongly advises against traveling to the affected countries. But what does this mean for vacationers in the Gulf region and those using the hubs there for onward travel to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand?

Foreign Office Safety Notices

“The security situation in the region remains highly volatile; a renewed escalation (…) including significant restrictions on air traffic cannot be ruled out.” This is what the Foreign Office writes in the safety notices for Qatar. A similar text can be found in those for the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, and Jordan. The office notes that even after the announcement of the ceasefire between the three warring parties on April 8, 2026, there have been “continued isolated attacks on targets in the region.” Accordingly, the “risk of a sudden escalation of the security situation and renewed restrictions on air traffic” remains unchanged. The same applies to “an increased abstract threat of terrorist attacks.”

Situation Remains Volatile

Travel warnings for parts of Israel, Iran, Kuwait, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria remain in place. Additionally, the travel advisories for various, more distant vacation countries, which Germans typically reach via transit connections through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha, and others, include notes from the Foreign Office. For example, the safety notices for Australia state: The country is “not directly” affected by the crisis in the Near and Middle East. “Nevertheless, airspace closures and restricted flight operations (especially at major hubs in the Gulf states) directly impact flights to and from Australia.” Here, too, the Foreign Office emphasizes: “The security situation in the Near and Middle East remains volatile.” Further, even long-term restrictions on air traffic are possible. A similar paragraph can be found in the safety notices for New Zealand, Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Maldives, and the Seychelles.

At the same time, regular air traffic operations have resumed in many places since early May, as reported by the ADAC. For instance, the civil aviation authority has lifted all restrictions in the United Arab Emirates. Air traffic over hubs like Abu Dhabi and Dubai is thus operating regularly again. The situation is similar in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria.

More on the topic

Current Travel Warnings These Are the Rights of Air Travelers When Transiting Through Crisis Regions

30,000 Germans directly affected What the War Against Iran Means for Travelers

Cancel if the Office Advises Against Travel?

In short, the situation is far from stable. But what does this mean for a planned vacation in the region or one that includes a transit through one of the hubs?

If a travel warning is issued by the Foreign Office, affected individuals can generally withdraw from an already planned trip. This applies to vacations in crisis areas as well as transits (more on this at TRAVELBOOK). However, the situation changes if a travel warning is lifted and “only” an advisory against travel remains. According to the ADAC, with the lifting of the travel warning, “the right to withdraw free of charge lapses unless travelers can specifically prove that the trip or transfer at a hub is significantly affected by extraordinary circumstances.” The ADAC states: “Fear of a trip or flight to the Gulf region is not a reason for a free cancellation.”

Also interesting: Current travel warnings – These are the rights of air travelers when transferring in crisis regions

Regulations of Tour Operators

Given the still tense situation in the region, it is likely the fear that makes many vacationers at least doubt whether a trip to or through the Gulf states is a good idea right now. TRAVELBOOK has looked at how individual tour operators handle this uncertainty.

Dertour

Tour operator Dertour explains on its own safety notice page how travel is being handled given the current situation in the Middle East. It states, among other things, that “connecting flights via Middle East hubs (…) are possible again.” At the same time, the current situation “still requires a flexible and adapted approach as well as ongoing assessment of the feasibility of our trips.” As of May 26, 2026, trips to the Middle East regions are possible. However, this excludes round trips and desert camps until June 15, 2026. The updated rebooking regulations also apply until this date. Accordingly, guests can “rebook package tours and hotel bookings in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia with arrivals up to and including June 15, 2026” free of charge to an equivalent trip. Transit trips via Middle East hubs, however, can no longer be rebooked for free.

Lufthansa Group

The airlines of the Lufthansa Group are somewhat more cautious with their flights. According to their own information, flights of the airlines Lufthansa and Swiss to and from Dubai are suspended until September 13, 2026, citing “operational reasons.” Additionally, all flights of Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines to Tehran (Iran), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon), Riyadh and Dammam (Saudi Arabia), Erbil (Kurdistan, Iraq), and Muscat (Oman) are canceled until October 24.

Flights to and from Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion Airport in Israel are set to resume from June. The Lufthansa Group plans to gradually restart these, beginning with Austrian Airlines. Swiss and Lufthansa are to follow in July, with Brussels Airlines resuming on October 24.

Travelers who have already booked a flight can rebook it for a later date or receive a full refund.

Qatar Airways

The Qatari airline Qatar Airways states in its Travel Alerts that its international flight network will serve more than 160 destinations from June 16. For tickets booked by May 15 and scheduled between February 28 and September 15, a free rebooking to a Qatar-operated flight by October 31 is available. Additionally, these tickets are eligible for a “refund of the unused ticket value” within the standard fare rules.

For all those who booked their tickets from May 16, the regular rebooking and cancellation conditions apply. Bookings that are “affected” can be changed free of charge up to 14 days before or after the planned date.

In a statement on May 21, the airline announced that passengers affected by disruptions would continue to be supported and all those stranded in Doha would be accommodated.

Emirates

The Dubai-based airline Emirates states (as of May 22, 2026): “If your travel plans are affected, we strive to rebook you on the next available Emirates flight.” This applies at least “for most affected tickets.”

Additionally, “customers booking flights from April 2” can use free rebooking options. However, these must be within the validity period of the ticket. If the rebooked flight is more expensive, the difference must be paid.

Eurowings Holidays

The tour operator Eurowings Holidays does not explicitly refer to the Middle East crisis but is currently promoting very short-term rebooking and cancellation options. Customers can cancel or rebook already booked trips free of charge up to 14 days before the start of the trip.

Other Tour Operators

For many other tour operators, including airlines, package tours, and cruises, no special regulations apply anymore. Instead, the regular rebooking conditions apply. Those who prefer to postpone a planned trip due to the current security situation should contact their operator directly–and hope for goodwill.