The Abha and King Khalid airport attacks on 6 and 7 October 2026 killed three people and injured 36, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). All three people killed were expat residents, and expats from four countries are among the injured. Both airports suffered some material damage, and GACA says it is working with security agencies to check the facilities and protect passengers.
What happened at Abha and King Khalid airports
GACA described two separate attacks, one on Abha International Airport in Asir and one on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Its statement did not name who carried them out.
Yemen’s Houthi movement later claimed both strikes. Its military spokesman said drones were used against Riyadh, and ballistic missiles and drones against Abha and the Khamis Mushait area. Those claims have not been independently verified.
| Airport | Killed | Injured | Nationalities reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abha International Airport | 2 | 28 | Killed: a Moroccan and an Algerian woman, both residents. Injured: Saudi citizens, plus Bangladeshi and Filipino residents |
| King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh | 1 | 8 | Killed: a Sudanese resident. Injured: 5 Saudi citizens, 2 Egyptian residents, 1 Pakistani resident |
| Total | 3 | 36 | Injuries ranged from minor to serious |
Everyone injured was taken to hospital. GACA said it is coordinating with the relevant authorities to assess the damage, confirm the facilities are safe and keep operations secure.
How flights have been affected
Flights at King Khalid International Airport were paused for a few hours on Tuesday, and again for more than an hour on Wednesday morning, according to flight tracking data reported by The National. GACA has not published an official operating notice for either airport, and there is no public update yet on Abha flight schedules.
The coalition said its forces intercepted a missile north of Riyadh and another near Khamis Mushait, and struck launch sites in Yemen. On Tuesday, GACA had also reported attacks on Jazan and Najran airports.
Who is affected
In practice, the people most exposed are those using the two airports this week: travellers, families meeting arrivals, and the many expats who work at terminals, ground handling, cleaning and retail.
- Expats flying in or out of Riyadh or Abha in the coming days.
- Residents of Asir, Jazan and Najran, the southern regions closest to Yemen.
Several embassies have reacted. The US Mission urged its citizens to stay alert and warned of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures, while the UK Embassy warned of missile and drone attacks on cities, airports, military sites and energy infrastructure.
What expats should do now
The safest approach is simple: confirm before you travel, and rely only on official channels. Many expats in Saudi Arabia get their news from WhatsApp groups first, and during disruptions those forwards are often wrong or out of date.
- Check your flight with the airline before leaving home, through its app, SMS alerts or call centre. Do not rely on the airport website alone; the Riyadh airport site was inaccessible for part of this week.
- Allow extra time at King Khalid and Abha airports, in case of delays or extra checks.
- Follow official updates from GACA and the Ministry of Interior, not unverified clips on social media.
- Register with your embassy if you have not already, so it can reach you with travel advice.
- Keep your iqama and passport with you when travelling, and save your sponsor’s or HR contact in case a cancelled flight affects an exit re-entry visa date.
- Report anything suspicious to the security authorities, for example through the Kollona Amn app, and do not film or share images of damaged sites.
What has not changed
No general closure of Saudi airspace has been announced, and no new entry, exit or visa rules have been issued because of the attacks. No changes have been announced to exit re-entry visas, iqama renewals or Absher services.
Jawazat has not said whether passengers whose flights are cancelled will get special treatment for expiring visas. If a cancellation pushes you past a deadline, raise it with your employer early rather than waiting for the last day.
We will update this story when GACA or the airports publish official operating information.
