Planning a Dubai Stopover This Winter? The State Department Just Updated Its Warnings for 13 Countries

For years, a night or two in Dubai or Doha was the smart way to break a long journey to Asia, Africa or Australia. A rooftop dinner, a desert drive, a lie-flat seat on one of the Gulf’s famous airlines, and the jet lag became part of the adventure.

This winter, that stopover comes with a warning attached. The US State Department now advises Americans to reconsider travel to both the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

What Has Changed

The State Department updated its travel advisories for 13 Middle Eastern countries in late October, warning of potential armed attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi forces and threats targeting Americans.

Five countries, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, sit at Level 4, “Do Not Travel.” The other eight, including Israel, Qatar and the UAE, are at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel.”

The levels themselves largely stayed the same. What changed is the reasoning behind them. The advisories cite recent Houthi attacks, including strikes on the airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and other critical infrastructure. The State Department warns the hostilities could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area.

Why Gulf Hubs Matter to American Travelers

Dubai and Doha are among the busiest connecting points in the world for long-haul travel. Many Americans heading to the Maldives, India, East Africa, Southeast Asia or Australia pass through one of them, often without giving it much thought.

A Level 3 advisory for a country where a traveler is only changing planes may feel abstract. But a stopover hotel, an airport transit area and a connecting flight all sit inside that country’s airspace. If the security situation shifts suddenly, travelers in transit are exposed to the same disruption as everyone else.

The State Department’s guidance for the region is sobering. Americans are urged to prepare to shelter in place if conditions worsen and to have an emergency departure plan that does not rely on US government help.

Airlines Are Still Pulling Back

The aviation picture remains unsettled. Singapore Airlines has extended its cancellations of Middle East flights until February 2027, according to Indonesia’s Kompas.

British Airways, meanwhile, is preparing to restart flights to Dubai and Amman in November. That signals some confidence returning, but also shows how recently these routes were suspended.

Costs are part of the story too. European jet fuel prices have hit their highest level since the Iran war began, according to Travel Weekly. Higher fuel bills tend to show up in fares, surcharges and quietly cancelled routes.

What Could Go Wrong

For travelers over 50, the risks are less about danger on the ground and more about being stranded. A sudden airspace closure can ground hundreds of flights in hours. Hotels fill quickly, airline phone lines jam, and rebooking can take days.

That is a serious problem for anyone managing medication, mobility issues or a fixed return date. It is worse for those on a cruise or tour departing from the Gulf, where a missed embarkation cannot easily be recovered.

Travel insurance is another trap. Some policies limit or exclude cover for destinations under certain State Department advisory levels, or for disruption caused by conflict. Travelers who booked months ago may have different cover from what they assume.

What Travelers Should Do

• Read the full State Department advisory for every country on the itinerary, including those where you are only connecting.

• Check whether your travel insurance covers trips to, or through, countries at Level 3, and whether it covers disruption from conflict.

• Consider routing through Europe or Asia instead of the Gulf for long-haul trips this winter.

• Enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security alerts.

• Carry extra medication and keep a printed copy of hotel and airline contacts.

• Book flexible fares where possible, so plans can change quickly if the situation does.

Sources: Fox News on the updated Middle East advisories; US State Department travel advisories; Head for Points weekly travel news round-up, including British Airways and jet fuel reports; Kompas on Singapore Airlines cancellations.