Travelers all over the world are now posing a greatest question which is Is it safe to travel to Dubai now because there is a lot of tension in certain areas of the Middle East. UAE has stayed normal and functional; however, the reverberations of recent regional conflicts have affected the airspace and resulted in new government warnings. This is what you should understand before going to Dubai.
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Are Flights Operating Normally Into and Out of Dubai?
On a Monday, that is June 23, a wave of flight cancellations in Dubai followed a temporary closure of airspace across various countries in the Middle East such as Iran and Israel. A number of Emirates, Flydubai, and Etihad flights had been delayed or canceled, which caused temporary havoc to passengers.
But Dubai Airports was back to full operations on Monday night, as per Government of Dubai Media Office. Nonetheless, the Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) on Tuesday recommended that its passengers should confirm the position with their airlines especially those flights that have destinations in India and other neighboring countries.
To maintain a sense of continuity in the case of an unexpected diversion, emergency airport procedures were initiated by the Federal Authority of Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security of Dubai to stabilize other areas of immigration, ground services and transit flights.
Qatar and Regional Airspace: What’s Happening Nearby?
Another important aviation centre, Qatar, opened its skies early Tuesday. Qatar Airways cancelled all its Monday flights and even after that announcement, it supposed that it would lead to delays until June 26. Travelers can change their flights without paying and get refunds on tickets bought and not yet used until July 15. Such instability in the area implies that flight statuses are changeable. In the words of one expert in travel in the UAE, the picture when it comes to flights is always dynamic.
What Are Foreign Governments Saying About Safety in Dubai?
Though it is not seemed dangerous to travel to Dubai at this point, certain governments have revised their positions to include a higher risk level in the region.
United States
- The advisory issued by the U.S. State Department is on Level 2 warning people to be extra cautious traveling to the UAE given the possibility of terrorism and a possible bomb or drone attacks.
- The expanded Worldwide Caution on June 22 urges American citizens to pay attention and does not specifically warn against traveling to the UAE as a dangerous location.
United Kingdom
- On 22 June, UK changed its travel advisory to UAE to warn against the possibility of a quick decline of the security situation in the region.
- Counseled passengers to be cautious and ready to make spontaneous changes in their travel plans such as unexpected airspace shutdowns.
India
- India has not given any travel warning to the UAE.
- Since UAE is among the largest destinations of travel of Indians, traveling between the two nations has not been interrupted.
Canada
- The June 22 advisory issued by Canada advises Canadians travelling to the UAE to practice a high level of caution due to military action and possible airspace restrictions.
- It also cautions about the likelihood of disturbances to movement such as border and flight complications.
Australia
- On June 23, Australia revised its statement cautioning of flight suspension and increased tensions in the region.
- The Australians are asked to be keen on the situation particularly in the event of reprisal or terrorist attacks.
Is Dubai Safe Right Now?
Though there is tension in the region, the city of Dubai itself is steady. In the city there is no local crisis and all life goes on. Restaurants, malls, hotels, and community festivals do continue their regular operations and the security levels are high.
Dubai was traditionally isolated because of its distance to the zones of active conflicts and its highly developed infrastructure. According to local experts, Dubai is still one of the safest cities in the world due to the high surveillance and response measure.
Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know
Unless, your travel insurance policy covers delays and cancellations due to regional conflict, you will not have insurance coverage:
- Your home country gives a warning to stay out of your country of residence.
- You have Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policy that has partial reimbursements (50-75%) and should be bought soon after initial booking.
Never assume you have coverage in the fine print and many general insurance programs exclude war and conflict-related events.
Final Thoughts: Should You Cancel Your Trip?
You are not obliged to cancel your trip to Dubai, this is unless you are informed otherwise by your home government or by your airline carrier. But travellers ought to:
- Keep yourself updated with news of airlines as well as airports and local authorities.
- It may be good to consider flexible tickets and hotels.
- Review or increase travel insurance covers to meet curve balls.
- Enroll in the travel alerts for your embassy or consulate, in case it is possible.
Dubai is a safe place to visit, yet, as in every destination during a period of regional insecurity, can be best dealt with through smart planning, research, and willingness to be flexible.