Safe or silly: should you buy cheap flights through the Middle East?

The Australian Government advises not to travel through the Middle East, yet airlines are opening routes back up. Should you book those tickets?

The Australian government's current advisory is do not travel to or transit through Qatar or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), even for a layover.

Yet multiple airlines are offering flights from Australia to Europe with a stopover in Qatar or the UAE, including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar.

Flight Centre Travel Group global leisure CEO, James Kavanagh, said services are actually increasing through these routes, and "plenty of customers are still booking them".

"That's their right, but they need to go in with their eyes open," Mr Kavanagh told Explore.

Beyond the risk of war and any losses from non-refundable travel like hotels if your flights are changed or cancelled, you run the risk of being uninsured.

With the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advising do not travel or transit through these areas, insurers won't cover travellers for any travel to or through the Middle East.

READ MORE: Will insurance cover you in a war zone? Take this step before cancelling your flights

Mr Kavanagh said missile strikes in the UAE on Monday local time "have caused cancellations and delays to a number of services".

"While airspace remains open, temporary restrictions are in place and normal services have not been fully restored," he said.

If you're looking for flights to Europe, you could pay prices closer to $2500 return via the Middle East, compared with up to $8000 for flexible premium tickets via Asia.

Is it worth opting for those cheaper Middle Eastern flights?

"That changes the risk calculation depending on when you're flying," Mr Kavanagh said.

"If you're travelling later in the year, there are genuinely good deals available and the risk looks different. If you're flying through the Middle East in the next few days, you need to think carefully because right now, you are not covered [for insurance]."

Australian Travel Industry Association chief executive, Dean Long, said world-class carriers like Emirates and Qatar "make expert safety assessments every single day, and they are not going to fly aircraft where they believe there is a genuine risk".

Tens of thousands of Australians are travelling through the Middle East every day and "at the moment those people are doing it with limited or no impact on their experience", he said.

But it all comes down to a travellers' risk appetite.

"Some people will be willing to do that, and some people won't," he said.

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While there are limited tickets available in the short term as airlines limit their daily flights, there will be "great opportunities" for better fare prices towards the end of the year, according to Mr Long.

"You need to weigh up all of the options, you need to be looking at the DFAT advice, you need to be taking the guidance from the airlines and then having an informed decision," he said.

He continued: "At the moment, travelling through the Middle East, it does attract a higher risk than traveling through Asia or North America."

Emirates is operating flights through Dubai and has restored 96 per cent of its global network.

But you shouldn't just book your flight and turn up at the airport.

Given the fluid nature of war, Emirates is advising customers to continue checking their flight status, even after they have checked-in.

You should make sure your details are up-to-date to receive notifications about flight disruptions.

"If your travel plans have been affected, we'll do our best to rebook you on the next available Emirates flight. This applies to most disrupted tickets, including journeys connecting beyond Dubai," their website states.

Customers booked to travel until May 31 have the option to rebook an alternate flight or request a refund.

Emirates is also offering one complimentary date change.

Rebooking to flights after June 15, 2026 may incur a charge.

From May 16, guests holding tickets for an Etihad flight that has been cancelled, may request a refund or rebook free of charge onto Etihad flights up to June 15, 2026.

Find out more here: https://www.etihad.com/en/manage/flight-status#travelupdates-item-9a591af9a6

Qatar Airways is flying in and out of Doha, Qatar.

They are undergoing a "phased restoration" and will have 150 destinations operating from June 16.

Customers with a confirmed booking with a travel date until September 15, 2026, are eligible for complimentary date changes to a new travel date up to October 31, 2026, or a refund of the unused ticket.

The airline is asking passengers not to proceed to the airport unless they hold a valid, confirmed ticket for travel.

Find out more at qatarairways.com/en-au/travel-alerts.html