As the war in the Middle East disrupts air transport and blocks thousands of connecting travelers, the issue of security becomes more than ever central for tourists. Several destinations appear today as safe places to travel in 2026.
The intensifying war in the Middle East is not only upsetting the geopolitical balance of the region: it is now strongly disrupting international air transport. Between air space closures, safety concerns and airline decisions, thousands of travelers find themselves stuck in airports, both in the Middle East and around the world. These disruptions particularly affect connecting passengers: many travelers heading to Asia or Africa find themselves stranded during stopovers at major European or Gulf hubs. During the first days of the war, 19,000 flights were canceled. A number that continues to grow day by day.
Destinations in the Middle East, usually very connected to the rest of the world, are among the most penalized. Cities like Tel Aviv, Doha, Dubai or Riyadh see their traffic reduced while several companies have suspended their connections. Among them, there are Ryanair, KLM, British Airways, Qatar Airways and even El Al, forced to adapt their flight programs to the risks related to the conflict. Cruise passengers have also stopped some cruises on the outskirts of the region.
The Netherlands: a safe country to travel
If the situation is obviously much more concerning for the local populations, the war in the Middle East reshapes the travel maps in 2026. Many stays planned in the coming months have been cancelled. For those who were about to book their holidays, the countries envisaged are questioned, and the security issue is more than ever a decisive factor in the choice. According to a study by Odoxa, 82% of the French say that security plays an important role.
Every year, the insurer Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection publishes a ranking of the safest countries to travel. The 2026 edition, published at the end of 2025 before the conflicts were taken into account, largely highlights European, North American and Oceania destinations. This ranking is based on feedback from travellers who have visited these countries over the past five years, complemented by several international safety indicators. The criteria assess, among other things, crime, health risks, political stability and security for different profiles of travellers.
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