The UK government has advised against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia in an updated statement. This follows deadly strikes earlier this month, including an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, 10 October, which killed at least 13 people and injured hundreds.
The Foreign Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice on Saturday, 17 October, extending the advisory against all but essential travel to cover almost the entire country. This is an upgrade from previous advice, which only applied to certain cities and areas.
The FCDO continues to advise against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border. It also warns of a heightened threat against airports, Saudi military and defence buildings, military bases, ports, and energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, including major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
While main airports in Jeddah, Medina, and Dammam are open for arrivals and departures, widespread cancellations are being reported as of Monday, 19 October. The FCDO advises British nationals wishing to leave Saudi Arabia to consider travelling by land to a neighbouring country and flying from there, if they judge it safe to do so.