New Zealand eases UAE travel warning as tourism rebounds

New Zealand has lowered its travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates from “avoid non-essential travel” to “exercise increased caution,” a shift that observers view as a timely boost for a tourism sector still rebuilding after regional instability and the pandemic.

Advisory downgrade marks shift in government risk assessment

According to New Zealand’s official SafeTravel service, the advisory for the United Arab Emirates was updated on September 22, 2026, moving the country to Level 2 on a four-step scale that ranges from “exercise normal safety and security precautions” to “do not travel.” The new rating advises travellers to exercise increased caution because of the broader regional security environment, but stops short of discouraging most trips.

Publicly available guidance shows that SafeTravel’s Level 2 designation is used for destinations where risks are higher than in New Zealand but still manageable for most visitors who remain alert to their surroundings. Previously, the UAE had been listed at Level 3, signalling that New Zealanders should avoid non-essential travel while tensions linked to the Iran conflict unsettled the wider Gulf region.

The updated page for the UAE continues to flag concerns about the threat of terrorism and the possibility of drone or missile attacks affecting airspace and transport routes. At the same time, the language now emphasises preparation, monitoring local developments and checking travel insurance coverage, rather than urging travellers to defer trips altogether.

SafeTravel retains a more stringent Level 4 “do not travel” warning for specific maritime areas such as the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting that risk remains elevated in certain zones even as conditions in the UAE’s main visitor hubs are assessed as more stable.

Tourism operators eye demand from a key long-haul hub

Coverage in regional media reports indicates that the change has been welcomed in the UAE, where tourism is a central part of economic diversification plans and where Dubai International Airport continues to rank among the world’s busiest hubs for international traffic. Airport statistics released earlier this year showed record passenger numbers for 2024, underlining the Emirates’ role as a gateway between Australasia, Europe and Africa.

The easing of New Zealand’s advisory is seen as especially significant because many New Zealanders transit the UAE en route to other destinations. Travel agents in New Zealand have been reporting a gradual return of demand for itineraries routed through Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and the removal of the “avoid non-essential travel” language is expected to make it easier for travellers to obtain comprehensive insurance and corporate travel approval.

On the New Zealand side, government tourism data points to an ongoing recovery. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s International Visitor Survey shows that total international visitor arrivals had reached about 87 percent of 2019 levels by the 2024–25 financial year, with visitor spending rising alongside volumes. Although the survey aggregates Gulf markets within broader regional categories, industry analysts note that improved confidence in key transit hubs such as the UAE tends to support long-haul visitation overall.

Air connectivity is another factor reinforcing the positive outlook. Major Gulf carriers have rebuilt extensive schedules to Auckland and other New Zealand gateways, restoring one-stop options from Europe and parts of Asia. With the advisory downgrade, airlines and tourism boards are expected to step up joint marketing efforts aimed at higher-spending long-haul travellers.

Remaining cautions for New Zealanders visiting the UAE

Despite the softer warning level, New Zealand’s travel advice stresses that risks have not disappeared. The SafeTravel notice for the UAE highlights the broader volatility in the Middle East and points to past cross-border attacks that have targeted critical infrastructure in Gulf countries. Travellers are advised that regional tensions could lead to sudden airspace closures or flight disruptions, potentially stranding passengers or forcing diversions.

The advisory also draws attention to strict local laws in the UAE, including regulations around alcohol, public behaviour, online activity and the use of certain medications. Cybersecurity rules in particular are noted as an area where visitors may inadvertently breach local requirements by photographing security incidents or sharing sensitive images on social media, conduct that can result in arrest or detention.

New Zealanders are encouraged to register their trips with the SafeTravel service before departure so they can receive targeted updates if the security situation changes. Guidance further recommends that travellers review the terms of their insurance to confirm cover for disruptions related to regional conflict, as some policies limit benefits once official advisories exceed certain thresholds.

Health and climate considerations also feature in the advice. The UAE experiences extreme heat between June and September, with daytime temperatures frequently surpassing 40 degrees Celsius in major cities and climbing higher in interior regions. Travellers are urged to plan outdoor activities carefully, remain hydrated and take precautions against heat-related illness, particularly if combining desert excursions with long-haul flights.

Two-way tourism opportunities between New Zealand and the Gulf

Industry and government data show that the tourism relationship between New Zealand and Gulf states has deepened over the past decade, with the UAE serving both as a source of high-value visitors and as a transit corridor for travellers from Europe, the Middle East and Africa. New Zealand’s tourism promotion efforts in the region have often focused on premium experiences such as nature-based travel, food and wine, and adventure activities.

Annual reports from Tourism New Zealand describe a strategy that targets long-stay visitors who are more likely to travel beyond key gateways such as Auckland into regions like Queenstown, Rotorua and the West Coast. Travellers originating in or transiting through the UAE typically fall into this long-haul category, with itineraries that combine multiple regions and higher per-trip expenditure.

On the outbound side, New Zealand-based residents visiting the UAE contribute to Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi’s position as major global tourism destinations. Official statistics from Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism confirm that the city hosted a record 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, continuing a multiyear upward trend. Analysts suggest that as New Zealand’s advisory settings normalise, the share of Australasian visitors is likely to grow, particularly in the premium leisure and stopover markets.

While precise figures for New Zealand resident trips to the UAE are limited by sample size, data compiled by Figure.NZ from Statistics New Zealand shows a consistent pattern of New Zealanders travelling to the Emirates for holidays, business and onward connections in the years leading up to the pandemic. Recent releases point to a renewed upward trajectory in long-haul travel as border settings and advisory levels stabilise.

What travellers should watch in the months ahead

Analysts of government advisories note that the move from Level 3 to Level 2 does not guarantee a linear path toward completely risk-free travel. The SafeTravel website emphasises that advice levels are subject to change at short notice in response to evolving security assessments, and that travellers remain responsible for their own decisions even when guidance is more permissive.

Observers expect that New Zealand will continue to monitor developments in the wider Middle East, including any renewed tensions that could affect air routes over or near conflict areas. A significant escalation in regional hostilities or a major incident affecting civil aviation could trigger a rapid reassessment of the UAE’s advisory level, with implications for tour operators, airlines and travellers already on the ground.

For now, however, the revised guidance is being interpreted as an important milestone in the gradual normalisation of long-haul travel between New Zealand and the Gulf. With tourism earnings contributing more than 12 billion New Zealand dollars to the economy in the year to June 2025 and edging closer to pre-pandemic peaks, policy shifts that support confidence in key transit and destination markets are being closely watched by the travel industry.

New Zealanders planning trips to the UAE are being urged, through publicly available official and industry channels, to stay informed, choose reputable airlines and tour providers, and keep flexible itineraries that can accommodate sudden schedule changes. Within those parameters, the latest advisory downgrade signals that travel to the UAE is again considered broadly feasible for those prepared to exercise additional caution.