Riyadh airport reopens but Saudi flights stay disrupted as attacks continue

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has resumed operations after being shut for more than a week, but travellers to Saudi Arabia still face severe disruption as missile and drone attacks continue. On 20 October, 145 flights — around 24 per cent of the day's scheduled services — were listed as cancelled at the airport, and the UK has extended its travel warning to cover the entire country.

Key facts

• 18 October: King Khalid International Airport reopened after more than a week of closure.
• All arriving and departing flights need prior permission from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation; the notice states no expiry date.
• 20 October: 145 flights — about 24 per cent of scheduled services — cancelled at Riyadh.
• The UK advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Saudi Arabia, and against all travel within 10 kilometres of the Yemen border.
• Australia tells its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia at all, including for religious purposes.

Which flights are affected?

Flights are continuing from Saudi airports including Jeddah and Medina, but disruption is affecting services across the kingdom. The US State Department says commercial flights remain operational, though at times significantly disrupted.

• Etihad has cancelled Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam flights until 24 October; Qatar Airways has suspended Riyadh and Dammam services until the same date and reduced its Jeddah schedule.
• Flydubai has cancelled Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights until 24 October, while Air Arabia has suspended several Saudi routes without announcing a resumption date.
• Oman Air has suspended Riyadh flights until 22 October, Air France until 24 October, KLM until 31 October and Lufthansa until 18 November (Dammam until 30 November).
• British Airways is due back in Riyadh with a limited daily service on 3 November; Cathay Pacific's suspension runs to 31 January 2027.
• Emirates cancelled individual Dubai–Riyadh and Dubai–Jeddah services on 19 and 20 October, with some scheduled to restart from 20–21 October. Gulf Air said flights after 18 October were proceeding as scheduled.

Which airports have been attacked?

Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport from 1 October, using drones, ballistic and cruise missiles and other projectiles. Coalition figures record 19 people killed and 364 injured in attacks on Saudi airports, including 17 deaths and 333 injuries at the Riyadh airport between 7 and 11 October.

Abha International Airport was hit, killing two people and injuring 28, and three people were injured at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan. Najran International Airport was also targeted, and a projectile fell near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. On 20 October the Houthis claimed fresh attacks on Riyadh and Abha airports, an Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Shaybah oilfield; Saudi authorities had not confirmed those claims.

What are governments advising?

The UK expanded its warning nationwide on 16 October, citing a heightened threat to airports, military and defence facilities, ports and energy infrastructure in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Jizan, Najran and Yanbu. It says further attacks on airports, disruption and cancellations are "very likely", and warns that travelling against Foreign Office advice may invalidate some travel insurance policies.

The US places Saudi Arabia at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, updated 12 October, advises against all travel to the Yemen border, and says US government employees need special authorisation to use any airport in the country. Australia, updating on 19 October, tells citizens not to travel at all and to consider leaving by private car, train or bus, including to aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar. Canada, updating on 18 October, advises against non-essential travel, against all travel to King Khalid International Airport, the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran, and anywhere within 30 kilometres of the Yemen border.

Are hotels, attractions and events open?

Hotels, restaurants, shopping centres and tourist attractions remain open, with no general order to close. The events calendar, however, has been heavily disrupted: Riyadh Fashion Week and the PIF Saudi International golf tournament are postponed until 2027, Soundstorm is cancelled for 2026, and the Six Kings Slam has moved to 27–30 December 2026. The EU-GCC summit due on 24 October has been postponed, and the Future Investment Initiative scheduled for 26–29 October will instead take place in 2027.

What this means for travellers

Anyone with upcoming plans should check the latest government advice before booking and be prepared for plans to change at short notice. Reconfirm flights directly with the airline before setting out for the airport, and check insurance cover carefully, as travelling against government advice can invalidate some policies. Those already in Saudi Arabia should monitor official alerts from the National Early Warning Platform, follow instructions from local authorities and be ready to shelter indoors during missile or drone warnings. The Ministry of Interior warns against filming, publishing or sharing footage of interceptions or impact sites, saying this could lead to legal action.

No expiry date has been set for the aviation permission requirement, and the UK warns that further attacks, disruption and cancellations are very likely.