Australia tells travellers to stay away from Saudi Arabia as DFAT lifts advice to 'do not travel'

Saudi Arabia has been moved to Australia's highest travel warning level. DFAT's Smartraveller now lists the kingdom as 'do not travel', advising Australians to postpone all trips — and, unusually, that explicitly includes religious pilgrimages such as Umrah and Hajj, which bring thousands of Australian travellers to Mecca and Medina every year.

The trigger is a deteriorating security picture. Houthi forces have threatened Saudi airports and airspace, and recent strikes have caused serious disruption at every major aviation hub in the country. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport — now under its own specific 'do not travel' advisory after the deadliest Gulf strike of the Iran conflict — reopened on a Sunday following Houthi attacks, but many airlines have not yet resumed services to the Saudi capital or other Saudi destinations.

The level-four rating matters well as a headline. 'Do not travel' is the most severe of Smartraveller's four advice tiers, and most travel insurers will void or restrict cover for anyone going against it. That means Australians who fly to Saudi Arabia now may effectively be travelling uninsured — a risk that extends beyond holidaymakers to pilgrims, business travellers and those visiting family.

For Australians already in the country, DFAT's guidance is practical. Ground transport — private car, train or bus — is suggested as an alternative to domestic and regional flights, including travelling overland to aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar, where advice levels were recently lowered for Qatar, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Anyone flying out is told to reconfirm their flight with the airline before setting off, monitor updates closely and spend as little time as possible inside airport terminals. Those staying put are advised to be ready to shelter in place at short notice, with enough food, water and essential supplies on hand. Australians needing urgent help can reach the Consular Emergency Centre via the number listed on Smartraveller.

Anyone with a booked trip to Saudi Arabia — including Umrah or Hajj packages — should contact their airline, agent or tour operator about postponement and refund options before making any decisions, and check Smartraveller for updates, since advice levels can move quickly in either direction.