Skip to content

Connecting business. Building understanding. Advancing peace.

Daily BriefVerify a certificateDue Diligence
Become a Member
Updated Saudi Arabia Flight cancellation / route change

Etihad Extends Abu Dhabi-Riyadh Flight Cancellations Following Saudi Airport Advisory

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its travel advisory to warn against all but essential travel to the entirety of Saudi Arabia. The decision follows drone and missile strikes by Yemen's Houthi movement that targeted critical transport and energy infrastructure, including Riyadh's international airport. British authorities also cautioned that non-compliant travel risks invalidating travel insurance policies.

Published Updated Source: Gulf News
Affected country
Saudi Arabia
Location / route
King Khalid International Airport (RUH), Riyadh
Published by source
October 10, 2026 10:09 PM CST
Effective period
October 10, 2026 12:00 AM CST – October 12, 2026 12:00 AM CST
Last verified
October 17, 2026 3:17 PM CST
Status
Updated

Official guidance

Advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia and all travel within 10km of the Yemen border; urges travellers to stay away from King Khalid International Airport and verify flight status.

Summary of official information. Always check the official source and follow the guidance of the authorities. UECN does not issue risk ratings; the absence of an alert does not mean that a destination is safe.

Illustration: An airport flight information display board showing multiple delayed and cancelled flight listings in an international terminal, with tr
Illustration

Update — October 17, 2026 3:17 PM CST: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its travel advisory to warn against all but essential travel to the entirety of Saudi Arabia. The decision follows drone and missile strikes by Yemen's Houthi movement that targeted critical transport and energy infrastructure, including Riyadh's international airport. British authorities also cautioned that non-compliant travel risks invalidating travel insurance policies.

Update — October 13, 2026 6:19 AM CST: Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until October 17 following weekend missile and drone strikes. Regional flight cancellations reached 46.4 percent on Monday as UAE and international airlines suspended services. Concurrently, attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz and fighting near Bab Al Mandab pushed Brent crude above $106 a barrel.

Update — October 13, 2026 6:18 AM CST: Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until October 17 following missile and drone strikes over the weekend. Major carriers including Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France-KLM have suspended flights, while Cirium recorded a 46.4% cancellation rate across Saudi airports on Monday. Maritime tensions also escalated after two commercial tankers were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz and Oman, pushing Brent crude to approximately $106.80 per barrel.

Etihad Airways has cancelled multiple flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh from October 10 to October 12, 2026, due to operational disruption at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, Gulf News reported.

King Khalid International Airport issued a travel advisory instructing passengers to contact their airline directly to confirm whether their flight is operating before heading to the terminal.

The operational impact extended across routes linking Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah with Saudi destinations including Riyadh and Abha. UAE carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia listed flight cancellations on UAE–Saudi Arabia routes.

In addition to departures, several incoming flights scheduled to arrive at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were delayed. Passengers have been advised to check for updates with their respective carriers prior to travelling to the airport.

Revision history

  1. Updated Official update applied: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has updated its travel advisory to warn against all but essential…
  2. Updated Official update applied: Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until October 17 following weekend…
  3. Updated Official update applied: Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until October 17 following missile…
  4. Active Published automatically from the official source

Sources

More from Middle East Travel Alerts

View all
Policy & Legal Updates
Source: Time Out Dubai

Dubai Implements Eight Key Visa and Residency Rule Updates in 2026

Dubai and UAE authorities have updated entry and residency frameworks across tourist, property, and long-term visas. Key changes include broadened visa-on-arrival eligibility, faster 48-hour tourist visa processing, removed minimum property purchase thresholds for sole owners, and linking residency renewals to unpaid traffic fines. Expanded categories for the 10-year Golden Visa and new specialized visit visas have also taken effect.

Policy & Legal Updates
Source: Emirates 24|7

UAE ICP Outlines Golden Visa Nomination Letter Procedures and Fees

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security outlined mandatory nomination letter procedures for UAE Golden Visa applicants on October 15, 2026. Applicants in most categories, including investors and entrepreneurs, must obtain an endorsement before visa processing. The preliminary online application via the ICP platform incurs an AED 150 statutory fee.

The UECN Brief

Policy updates, China–UAE business news and industry insights, delivered to your inbox.

Language
Subscriptions

Double opt-in: we send a confirmation link. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy