Travel Vaccinations for Middle East

The UAE does not require any mandatory vaccinations for direct arrivals from Australia. However, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended as a sensible precaution. Typhoid is recommended if you plan to eat at local restaurants and markets outside major hotels. Ensure your routine vaccinations (measles, diphtheria, tetanus, polio) are current. If you are using the UAE as a transit point to Africa or Asia, plan the vaccinations for your final destination well in advance.

Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are recommended for all travellers to Jordan. Hepatitis B is recommended for longer stays. Rabies pre-exposure vaccination may be considered for adventure travellers visiting remote areas (Wadi Rum, Dana Nature Reserve) where medical access is limited. Ensure your routine vaccinations are current. Jordan does not require any mandatory vaccinations for entry from Australia. No antimalarial prophylaxis is needed.

Israel is a low-risk destination from a vaccination perspective. Ensure your routine vaccinations are current, including measles and polio. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B are recommended as a general precaution. Typhoid vaccination is recommended if you plan to eat outside major hotels and restaurants or visit the Palestinian Territories. Rabies vaccination is generally not needed for standard tourism. Israel does not require any mandatory vaccinations for entry from Australia.

No. The UAE, Jordan, and Israel are all malaria-free. Antimalarial prophylaxis is not required for travel to any of these destinations. If you are transiting the Middle East en route to a malaria-endemic destination (e.g., East Africa, South Asia), ensure you have the appropriate prophylaxis for your onward destination. Some other Middle Eastern countries (Yemen, parts of Saudi Arabia) do have malaria risk, but these are not standard tourist destinations.

The Middle East requires relatively modest vaccination costs compared to tropical destinations. Expect $100–$300 for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid. Routine vaccine boosters may add $0–$100. If you are transiting to a higher-risk destination and need additional vaccines (Yellow Fever, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis), costs will increase significantly. GP consultation fees apply on top. Most travel vaccines are not covered by Medicare.

MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus) is a viral respiratory illness first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. It is primarily associated with close contact with dromedary camels. Cases have occurred across the Middle East, including the UAE and Jordan. The risk to standard tourists is very low — most cases involve people with direct camel contact or healthcare workers. Avoid touching camels, do not drink unpasteurised camel milk, and practise good hand hygiene. There is no vaccine for MERS.

In the UAE, tap water is desalinated and technically safe to drink, though most residents and visitors prefer bottled water due to taste. In Israel, tap water is safe to drink throughout the country. In Jordan, tap water quality is variable — bottled water is recommended, particularly in Petra, Aqaba, and Wadi Rum. In all three countries, water in major hotels is safe for drinking and brushing teeth.

Extreme heat is the most underestimated health risk in the Middle East. Summer temperatures (June–September) regularly exceed 45°C in the UAE and Jordan, with high humidity in coastal areas like Dubai. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can occur rapidly, especially during outdoor activities like desert safaris or visiting Petra. Drink at least 3–4 litres of water per day, avoid outdoor activity between 11am and 3pm, wear lightweight light-coloured clothing, and use high-SPF sunscreen. Seek air-conditioned shelter if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or stop sweating.