Saudi Arabia is open for travel, but the security picture has become more specific since early July. Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah airports are operating normally, while four airports in the south — Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah — faced closures and disruption after Yemen’s Houthi movement broke its four-year truce with Saudi Arabia and struck Abha airport with missiles and drones on 13 July 2026.
Official advisories continue to warn against travel near the Yemen border region in the south. If you’re flying to or through southern Saudi Arabia, confirm your specific flight status directly with your airline before you travel.
What the Regional Situation Means for Travelers
The regional picture escalated in mid-July 2026: Yemen’s Houthi movement ended its informal truce with Saudi Arabia, striking Abha International Airport with missiles and drones on 13 July, on top of the ongoing wider US-Iran conflict in the Gulf. Saudi authorities responded with strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, and both sides have continued to exchange fire since.
For Saudi Arabia, the practical travel picture is now split between the main hubs and the south:
- Saudi airspace is open overall, and Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah airports are operating regular schedules.
- Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah airports were closed by Saudi aviation authorities from 13 July 2026 following the Houthi attack on Abha; domestic flights to Abha have continued, but international routes there (including flydubai and Air Arabia services to Dubai and Sharjah) remained suspended as of the most recent reports.
- The UK FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border, and against all but essential travel to areas 10–80km from the border. This guidance is unchanged and was last reviewed 13 July 2026.
- Canada has specifically warned against non-essential travel to Abha International Airport, citing the risk of missile and drone attacks.
Official advisories describe the regional security situation as unpredictable, warning that further attacks are possible at short notice. If you have a booking to or via southern Saudi Arabia, confirm your specific flight with your airline before you travel, and check your government’s latest advisory.
Today’s Situation at a Glance
Saudi Arabia remains open and operating for travel, and the main hubs are unaffected by the closures in the south. Riyadh and Jeddah are operating normally, and domestic and international flights are running across the major routes.
The exception is the four southern airports near the Yemen border. Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah faced closures and cancellations after the mid-July Houthi attack on Abha, so confirm directly with your airline if you’re flying to or via those airports.
For the wider regional picture, see our Middle East travel update. Planning a multi-country Gulf trip? Our guides on whether it’s safe to travel to the UAE and Bahrain cover those destinations.
If your flights booked on Wego are affected by any of these changes, please visit our dedicated support page.
Flights and Airports
Saudi airspace
Saudi airspace is open overall. Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED), Dammam (DMM), and Madinah (MED) are all handling regular traffic.
Abha (AHB), Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah faced closures from 13 July 2026 after a Houthi missile and drone attack on Abha, with disruption continuing for several days afterward. Verify current status directly with the airport or your airline before flying to or via these airports.
For more detail, see our Saudi Arabia Airspace & Flights guide.
Airlines flying to Saudi Arabia
Saudi carriers and most international airlines are operating normal or near-normal services to Saudi Arabia’s main hubs. Saudia, flynas, and flyadeal are running regular domestic and international routes.
Some flydubai and Air Arabia services to and from Abha were suspended during the mid-July closures there. Confirm your specific flight via your airline before you travel, especially if you’re flying to or via southern Saudi Arabia.
For a fuller breakdown, see: Saudi Arabia Flight Resumption, When Will Foreign Airlines Return, Saudia Flight Status, flynas Flight Status, and flyadeal Flight Status.
Saudi airports
Saudi Arabia’s main airports — Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah — are open and operating normal schedules. Four airports in the south (Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah) faced closures and disruption after the mid-July Houthi attack on Abha, so check directly with your airline if you’re travelling to or via those airports.
Before You Travel: A Quick Checklist
- Confirm your flight via your airline’s app or website — a good habit for any international trip, and essential if you’re flying to or via southern Saudi Arabia.
- Check your government’s latest travel advisory for Saudi Arabia.
- Make sure your travel insurance covers your destination.
- If you booked on Wego, check My Trips or our status page for any updates on your booking.
If you’re in Saudi Arabia
- Register with your embassy so they can reach you if needed. US citizens: enroll in STEP. UK citizens: sign up with FCDO. Canadians: register your presence.
- Stay informed via the Saudi Press Agency and local news (Arab News, Saudi Gazette).
Government travel advisories
Government advisories should always be read in full, not just by the headline level. As of writing:
- The US State Department still lists Saudi Arabia at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, citing regional conflict risk, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws. This level has been in place since the Gulf conflict escalated earlier in 2026; commercial flights are noted as operational.
- The UK FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 km of the Yemen border, and against all but essential travel to areas 10 to 80 km from the border. It warns that authorities can temporarily close airports near the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border, as happened at Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah in mid-July 2026.
- Canada advises exercising a high degree of caution in Saudi Arabia, with stricter regional advisories near the Yemen border, the Al Qatif governorate, and government-declared “out of bounds” zones. Canada has also specifically warned against non-essential travel to Abha International Airport due to the risk of missile and drone attacks.
- Australia’s Smartraveller advises exercising a high degree of caution overall, with higher advice levels for areas near the Yemen border.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to travel to Saudi Arabia right now?
Saudi Arabia’s main airports are open and Saudi carriers are running near-normal services, but the picture is more specific after Yemen’s Houthi movement broke its truce with Saudi Arabia in mid-July 2026 and struck Abha airport with missiles and drones. Check your government’s latest advisory, and confirm your flight directly if you’re travelling to or via southern Saudi Arabia.
Is it safe to fly to Saudi Arabia right now?
Saudi airspace and the main hubs (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah) are operating normally. Flights to and from four southern airports — Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah — have faced closures and cancellations since a Houthi attack on Abha on 13 July 2026, so confirm your specific flight with your airline before travelling to those airports.
Are Saudi airports open?
Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED), Dammam (DMM), and Madinah (MED) are all open and handling regular domestic and international services. Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah in the south faced closures and disruption after the mid-July Houthi attack on Abha, so check directly with your airline before flying to those airports.
Which areas of Saudi Arabia should I avoid?
Official advisories warn against travel near the Yemen border region in the south, including around Abha, Jizan, Najran, and Sharurah. The UK FCDO advises against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border and against all but essential travel to the wider 10–80km border zone, so read your government’s advisory in full before traveling.
Can I get a refund if my flight to Saudi Arabia is canceled?
Refund and rebooking rules depend on the airline, route, ticket type, and reason for cancellation. For more on airline policies, see our Flight Cancellations Middle East guide.
What is the latest on regional travel conditions?
Yemen’s Houthi movement broke its four-year truce with Saudi Arabia in mid-July 2026, striking Abha airport with missiles and drones, while the wider US-Iran conflict in the Gulf also remains active. Official advisories describe the regional security situation as unpredictable, so check official advisories and your airline before you travel.
Sources
- U.S. State Department — Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory
- UK FCDO — Saudi Arabia Travel Advice
- UK FCDO — Saudi Arabia Regional Risks
- Government of Canada — Saudi Arabia Travel Advice
- Australia Smartraveller — Saudi Arabia
- The National — Informal Truce Between Saudi Arabia and Houthis on Brink of Collapse
- Safe Airspace — Saudi Arabia Airspace Risk Assessment
- Wego — Strait of Hormuz Reopening: Latest Updates
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
