The Indian Embassy advisory for Saudi Arabia issued on Thursday, 8 October 2026 asks Indian nationals in the Kingdom to remain alert, stay indoors when necessary and follow instructions from Saudi authorities. It came on the same day missiles aimed at Riyadh were intercepted and dozens of flights at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) were cancelled, with Air India and Air India Express suspending Riyadh services until 10 October.
What the Indian Embassy advisory says
The Embassy of India in Riyadh has asked the community to stay calm, stay informed and avoid spreading unverified material. Its key points:
- Remain alert and vigilant, and stay indoors when necessary.
- Follow instructions issued by local authorities through official channels.
- Do not circulate or repost videos or news about the ongoing events.
- Follow the Embassy’s official social media accounts for verified updates.
The Embassy in Riyadh, the Consulate General in Jeddah and their outsourced VFS centres are working normally. Consular services have not been suspended. For emergencies, the 24-hour Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) toll-free helpline is 8002471234.
The reposting point matters more than it sounds. Many expats in Saudi Arabia forward WhatsApp videos without thinking twice, and old or fake clips spread fastest in moments like this. If a video did not come from an official account, do not pass it on.
Why it was issued
The advisory follows three days of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports. On Thursday the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh and one at Khamis Mushait. Saudi Civil Defence said debris from the interception over the capital caused material damage to a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex.
Earlier attacks on Abha airport on 6 October and King Khalid airport on 7 October killed three people and injured 36, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation. India’s government called the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable”.
Riyadh flights: which airlines have cancelled
KKIA has told passengers to contact their airline and confirm their flight status before leaving for the airport. According to Cirium data reported by Business Standard, 169 of 378 scheduled Riyadh departures had been cancelled by mid-afternoon on Thursday.
| Airline | Change | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Air India | All Riyadh flights to and from India cancelled; full refund offered | 10 October |
| Air India Express | Riyadh flights cancelled; free rescheduling or full refund | 10 October |
| IndiGo | Delhi to Riyadh cancelled Thursday and Friday; Hyderabad and Mumbai to Riyadh cancelled Friday | 9 October (reported) |
| KLM | Riyadh and Dammam flights cancelled | 24 October |
| Air France | Riyadh flights suspended | 24 October |
Schedules are changing by the hour, so treat this table as a starting point and check with your airline.
What Indian expats in Saudi Arabia should do now
- Save 8002471234 in your phone and share it with family members who do not read the news.
- If you are flying from Riyadh, check your booking in the airline app before leaving home. Do not go to KKIA in the hope that a flight will operate.
- If Air India or Air India Express cancelled your ticket, choose a refund or free change through the airline rather than buying a new ticket at high prices.
- Planning an exit and re-entry trip? Keep an eye on your visa validity in Absher so a delayed flight does not leave you short of days.
- Follow official updates from the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Embassy of India in Riyadh, not forwarded messages.
What has not changed
No new entry, exit or visa rules have been announced for residents, and the Indian missions are open. GACA has not published a general airspace closure. KKIA is asking passengers to confirm flights, not to stay away, so services are disrupted rather than halted.
We will update this story as airlines and the Embassy issue new notices.
