Karmactive Staff
Australian travelers now face a heightened travel warning for Qatar, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) raising its advisory level amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
DFAT’s Smartraveller service has upgraded Qatar from Level 1 (Exercise normal safety precautions) to Level 2 (Exercise a high degree of caution), citing “ongoing hostilities in the region” as the primary concern.
The warning, issued in June 2025, specifically mentions that “conflicts in the Middle East could lead to an increase in tensions elsewhere in the region and may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.”
This change affects thousands of Australians who use Doha as a popular stopover point when traveling to Europe and other destinations. Qatar has emerged as a significant transit hub, challenging rivals Dubai and Abu Dhabi, particularly following Qatar Airways’ expanded presence in the Australian market and its recent partnership with Virgin Australia.
The advisory doesn’t suggest Australians avoid travel to Qatar entirely but recommends travelers “pay close attention to personal security” and “monitor the media for new and existing risks.”
DFAT warns that “demonstrations and protest activity may occur, and local security situations could deteriorate with little notice,” advising travelers to “avoid all demonstrations and protests.”
This Qatar advisory follows more severe warnings issued earlier for other Middle Eastern countries. Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories currently sit at Level 4 (“Do not travel”), DFAT’s highest warning level, due to what the department describes as “the volatile security situation, armed conflict, civil unrest and terrorism.”
Following military strikes in Iran, DFAT noted “an increased threat of military and terrorist attacks against Israel,” which has declared a national state of emergency.
Qatar Airways has temporarily cancelled flights to several destinations in the region, including airports in Iran (Imam Khomeini, Mashhad, and Shiraz), Iraq (Baghdad, Erbil, Basra, Sulaymaniyah, and Najaf), and Syria (Damascus).
Virgin Australia, which recently launched direct Sydney-Doha and Brisbane-Doha services through its partnership with Qatar Airways, stated that their “wet leased Doha services remain unaffected.” The airline assured passengers that if changes become necessary, “Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways will work together on identifying safe alternatives and will ensure guests remain well-informed of any impacts.”
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For travelers already booked on flights to or through Qatar, DFAT recommends:
- Regularly checking the Smartraveller website for updates
- Registering travel plans on Smartraveller
- Obtaining comprehensive travel insurance (noting many policies exclude coverage for destinations under “Do Not Travel” advisories)
- Maintaining digital and physical copies of important documents
- Staying in contact with family and accommodation providers
Earlier this year, DFAT also updated advisories for several other countries including the United States, noting stricter entry requirements and REAL ID for domestic flights.
The United States has similarly raised its travel advisory for Israel to Level 4, warning U.S. citizens against travel to the country due to “armed conflict, terrorism and civil unrest.”
Despite these warnings, Qatar itself maintains a reputation for being one of the safest countries in the Middle East region, with DFAT noting that “Qatar has a low crime rate” and “pickpocketing, bag snatching and other petty crimes are rare.”
