UK Foreign Office Advises Against Travel to Major Saudi Cities and Airports

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has issued a formal security advisory urging British citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Jeddah and Dammam, as well as the majority of Saudi Arabian airports, citing heightened security risks.

In an official statement released by the British Embassy in Riyadh, the Foreign Office identified Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina as the only facility currently categorized as safe for travel. Officials have explicitly advised against utilizing King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh until further notice, a directive prompted by serious security incidents reported at the site on October 10.

These precautionary measures follow a series of attacks targeting critical infrastructure within the Kingdom, including King Khalid International Airport, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and various facilities operated by the state oil company, Aramco. According to Saudi authorities, these incidents, which involved missile strikes, have resulted in multiple casualties and varying degrees of injury.

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen has formally attributed responsibility for these assaults to the Houthi movement, characterizing the attacks as war crimes that violate international humanitarian law. Coalition leadership has affirmed its commitment to responding decisively to these violations in accordance with international legal standards and customary rules of engagement.

The current security climate coincides with an intensification of hostilities in Yemen between the internationally recognized government, supported by the coalition, and Houthi forces. The resulting regional instability has prompted several nations to reevaluate and update travel advisories for citizens currently residing in or planning to visit the Kingdom.