September 7, 2026 — 5:00 am Save You have reached the maximum number of items saved. Remove items from the saved list to add new ones. AAA Tensions are high in the Middle East as Iran continues to launch missiles and drones towards its Gulf neighbors, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). But commercial aviation continues to operate, and passengers appear to be returning. Emirates and Etihad Airways – both UAE-based carriers – along with Doha-based Qatar Airways again operate extensive flight schedules from Australia, with a network of flights available outside the UAE to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and beyond. So, what is it like to fly through Dubai now? Emirates and other major airlines are operating flights as normal again despite ongoing conflict in the region.AP Surprisingly, it is incredibly calm here. The same can be said for every passenger I speak to at the Emirates on-board bar between Melbourne and Dubai (I used my points to buy a business class ticket with little hassle compared to the usual seat hunting). On this flight, business class is almost full and economy class is also quite crowded. One passenger I speak to is heading to Austria for a short arrival and departure conference. Another is planning a short break in Manchester after finishing work in Australia. I meet a couple who have never flown “up there” before and are loving every minute of it. Nobody panics: everything flies as usual. Dubai Airport feels just as relaxed. This is my 22nd time passing here (I keep track of my flights), and the feeling is the same as before the start of the war. Security is efficient without being noticeably nervous… My carry-on luggage even comes out of the scanners faster than in Melbourne. Go figure it out. Sign up for the travel newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Register now. Between flights I visit a couple of Emirates lounges. The central business class lounge (Concourse B) is usually crowded. It’s busy today, but not that crowded. The same can be said for the adjacent first class lounge. Dubai airport, usually one of the busiest in the world, is currently quiet.AP It’s only after boarding the next flight that I notice a shift. Initially there is a delay as some connecting passengers arrive late, so we wait rather than leave them behind. However, it is routine. When everyone is seated, another announcement is made. Dubai airport – usually one of the busiest in the world – has just concentrated all flights on one runway “due to air traffic control”. On parallel runways such as Dubai this is not usually done unless there are airspace restrictions in place. We sit patiently on board, waiting for movement, which finally arrives about two hours after the scheduled departure time. After that, everything went smoothly again, except for the 84-minute delay on arrival. I don’t mind; I just appreciate your safe arrival. But what can you do to prepare for transit through the Middle East if things don’t go quite as planned? First, check your travel insurance carefully. Standard policies are generally not valid in destinations listed as “do not travel” by Smartraveller, but check if your policy is valid for countries listed as “reconsider need to travel” – this varies by policy and insurer. At the time of writing, the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and Qatar (Doha) are categorized as ‘reconsider your travel needs’ countries. Meanwhile, some Middle Eastern countries that typically have a lower warning level are now on the “do not travel” list, such as Bahrain and Kuwait. Be sure to check each country on your route, including transit points. For added peace of mind, some specialist insurers offer policies tailored to high-risk transit and travel to red zone destinations that regular policies exclude. To address this issue, Emirates has launched its own travel insurance, but of the 27 countries where it is available, Australia is not one of them. As an alternative to roundtrip transit travel between Australia and Europe via Dubai, Hotspot Cover offers transit cover for medical purposes only, priced at US$85 ($118). This may be an alternative to purchasing a second comprehensive travel insurance policy if your existing policy covers your final destination but not your transit point. It’s also worth keeping an eye on your flight bookings as airline schedules may change, especially as the situation in the Middle East evolves. I experienced several flight changes and ended up flying out of Melbourne a day later than originally booked to accommodate changes to my connecting flight schedule. At least the changes were clearly communicated and accepted well before the trip, rather than at the airport during check-in. If you find comfort in overpreparing for failures (guilty), there are a few other simple things you can do. Start by using power on your long flight from Australia to fully charge all your devices, especially your smartphone and laptop. If your connection goes down, you can answer instead of wandering around the terminal looking for an outlet. Keep a photocopy of your passport with you. This may come in handy if it gets lost or if you have an unexpected visa application. For example, if there are long delays, you may decide to cross a land border to depart from an active airport. Having a visa to a neighboring country helps a lot with this. Saudi Arabia borders both the UAE and Qatar, and its tourist e-visas are easy to obtain online. It never hurts to have more than one SIM card or eSIM, especially a roaming-enabled account that offers a choice of mobile networks when traveling – useful if one network goes down. But most importantly, be patient. Just like you, airline employees also want to arrive safely and get home on time. A smile on a frustrating day goes a long way. The writer traveled at his own expense. Save You have reached the maximum number of items saved. Remove items from the saved list to add new ones. Melbourne-based journalist and columnist Chris Chamberlin loves maximizing his points by traveling the world in comfort and, as a points coach, helping others do the same. From showering on a plane to stretching out on a double bed in the sky, Chris has all the tips for flying in style without breaking the bank. Over the course of his adventures, he has flown nearly 1,000 flights on more than 80 airlines, earning lifetime frequent flyer status along the way. Follow him on Instagram @chris_chamberlin.Connect via email. From our partners Post navigation I just flew through Dubai. Here’s what you need to know How a Coffee Farm Tour Changed My Morning Order