The Foreign Office (FCDO) has expanded its travel advice for Saudi Arabia following two days of deadly strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, warning that further attacks against airports are ‘very likely’.
Updated yesterday, (11 October), the FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to all airports in Saudi Arabia except Medina International Airport. It also now advises against all but essential travel to the cities of Dammam and Jeddah, which is on the Red Sea.
It has advised British nationals to avoid King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital until it is secure, adding that those wishing to leave the country should consider travelling by land to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE or Jordan to catch a flight.
The updated advice follows a second attack on the Riyadh airport on Sunday, which killed one person and injured 11 others, according to Saudi authorities. A strike the previous day killed 13 people and injured more than 300, with a fire reported in a passenger terminal. Further attacks were also reported at the airport earlier in the week.
The attacks were claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement, which has also reported targeting Dammam airport and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. The group has warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airports and airspace.
The FCDO also advises against all travel within 10km of Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen, and against all but essential travel to several other areas, including Riyadh, Aseer, Najran and Jizan provinces, and the city of Taif.
Flight disruption has been widespread across the country, with 2,018 of 6,608 scheduled departures between 8 and 13 October listed as cancelled or not operated, representing 30.5% of flights, according to aviation analytics data from Cirium.
The FCDO update said: “Following a serious incident at King Khalid International Airport on 10 October 2026 at approximately 1500 (local time), we advise British nationals to avoid King Khalid International Airport until the airport is secure and to monitor the advice of the Saudi authorities.
“Since 13 July, the Houthis (a military group in Yemen) have launched missiles and drones targeting several locations in Saudi Arabia. There is a heightened threat against airports, military bases, ports and energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, including Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu, as well as shipping in the Red Sea. Further attacks against airports are very likely. Follow Saudi Civil Defence alerts.
“British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruption.”
British nationals are advised to follow local authorities’ instructions, sign up for travel alerts, monitor the news, avoid military facilities and oil infrastructure, check flights and travel advice before heading to airports, keep travel documents up to date and seek shelter indoors if instructed.
