The United States has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia amid security risks linked to Houthi attacks on the kingdom, while warning American citizens of possible missile strikes, airport disruptions and airspace closures.
The alert cited hostilities involving Iranian-supported Houthis, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure that have caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. A limited number of flights normally based at the Riyadh airport are operating from Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim. Land border crossings, including the King Fahd Causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, remain operational.
In a security alert issued on October 28, the US Mission to Saudi Arabia said the State Department’s departure order took effect on October 23, 2026. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened on October 23, allowing domestic services and some international flights operated by Saudi national carriers, according to the alert.
Highways and roads in and around Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran are also open, the advisory said.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has warned that recording, publishing or circulating such material could lead to legal liability. US government employees in Saudi Arabia face additional movement restrictions. It advised them to enroll in the State Department ’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and make it easier for diplomatic officials to contact them during an emergency.
Because of security risks, they require special authorization from the chief of mission to use any airport in the country and are prohibited from travelling within 20 miles of the Yemen border.
The US Mission said American citizens had been detained for violating these restrictions, including by photographing government buildings, airports and impact sites. The US Mission said emergency consular services remain available to American citizens.
