The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has raised the travel advice level for Oman, the last Middle Eastern nation to be lifted from the government’s lowest alert level of ‘Exercise normal safety precautions’.
Prior to the onset of recent hostilities, Qatar and Oman, located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, had been the only Middle Eastern nations where Australians were advised to exercise normal safety precautions.
Qatar’s overall travel advice level was recently raised to “Exercise a high degree of caution” (“due to the ongoing hostilities in the region”), leaving Oman as the “safest” country in the Middle East.
But the flare-up in Iran, and then the attempted missile attack on US military bases in Qatar, has prompted the federal government to up its travel advice for the Gulf nation.
“Due to the deteriorating security situation and hostilities in the region, we’ve raised our level of advice for Oman to ‘Exercise a high degree of caution’,” DFAT says on its Smartraveller website.
It also advises Aussies to, “Reconsider your need to travel to border areas with Yemen due to the threat of armed conflict and violence”.
The move follows a recent blanket warning for the Middle East region, which warned travellers of the volatile nature of the current situation.
“Conflicts in the Middle East could result in an increase in tensions elsewhere in the region and may result in airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions,” Smartraveller states.
“The security situation in the Middle East is unpredictable and could deteriorate further with little warning.”
This was evident in the recent, sudden closure of airspace and airports across the region.
DFAT also warns prospective travellers that, “There is a risk of reprisal attacks and further escalation across the region, as well as the potential for terrorist attacks”.
However, such attacks in Oman are extremely rare. In July 2024, three Islamic State (IS) gunmen opened fire at a mosque in Wadi Kabir district in the capital Muscat, but this was the first bona fide jihadist attack in Oman’s modern history, The Washington Institute reported.
In recent years, Oman has risen in popularity among tourists, due to its untouched coastline, its arresting deserts, ancient forts and bustling souks.
At the 2024 World Airline Awards, its national carrier Oman Air placed among the top 25 best carriers
Australians need a valid visa to travel to Oman.
For the latest travel updates and travel advice on the Middle East region, check out our rolling blog.
