Amid ongoing conflict, Australians find themselves among countless travelers stranded at airports throughout the Middle East.
The closure of airspace in the region has thrown travel arrangements into disarray, impacting not just those in Australia but also travelers worldwide.
This morning, Dubai International Airport—a key transit point for Australians heading to Europe—saw at least 1,200 flights cancelled, exacerbating the travel chaos.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade emphasizes that the safety and security of citizens remain their top priority.
“Many Australians in the Middle East are unable to leave due to airspace closures, particularly around major transit hubs. Restrictions on road and land borders could further impede movement,” the department stated.
“Even if your travel plans don’t involve the Middle East directly, they might still be affected by the current situation.”
Smartraveller now advises Australians do not travel to most destinations in the Middle East. This includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Australians should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates closed their skies hours after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran which resulted in numerous flight cancellations.
Australian travellers across the nation and abroad have been left stranded as a result.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), home to both the long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad, closed their airspace on Saturday.
Dubai airport was targeted by Iranian retaliatory air strikes yesterday as Tehran targeted travel hubs in pro-western Gulf countries.
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