Multiple countries warn against travel to Saudi Arabia amid Houthi strikes

• Australia raised its advice to “Do not travel,” its highest level.
• Britain and Canada advise against all but non-essential travel, with tougher warnings for specific regions.
• South Korea raised its advisory to Level 3 and urged nationals to leave.
• New Zealand advises against travel to Saudi Arabia, and France advises against non-essential travel.

Governments around the world sharply escalated their travel warnings for Saudi Arabia this week, after a missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport left a heavy casualty toll and Yemen’s Houthi movement threatened further strikes across the kingdom.

Australia: “Do not travel”

Australia’s embassy, which also covers Bahrain, Oman and Yemen, raised its advice on 16 October to “Do not travel,” citing the volatile security situation. Australians were told to postpone all planned travel, including trips for religious purposes.

Those already in the kingdom who wish to leave were urged to do so “while commercial options remain available.” Anyone staying should be prepared to shelter in place at short notice, with enough food, water and essential supplies.

Canberra advised against travelling to King Khalid International Airport and urged extreme caution at all other airports, noting that the Houthis have threatened Saudi airports and airspace. Air travel is significantly disrupted nationwide, with regular airspace closures, cancellations and delays. Australians who do fly were advised to reconfirm their flights before leaving for the airport and to minimise their time there. The embassy suggested private car, train or bus journeys to aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar.

Britain: all but essential travel

The FCDO, updating its guidance on 16 October, now advises against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, and continues to advise against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border. It warned that travellers who ignore its advice may find their insurance invalidated.

The FCDO said the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at several Saudi locations since 13 July. It identified a heightened threat to airports, military and defence sites, ports and energy infrastructure in Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Yanbu, as well as to Red Sea shipping. “Further attacks against airports as well as disruption and cancellations are very likely,” the advisory said. Like Australia, it suggested leaving by land to a neighbouring country and flying from there.

London also flagged the possibility of renewed Iranian attacks. The US and Iran announced a memorandum of understanding on 17 June, but the FCDO called the situation unpredictable. Advice to Britons in the kingdom includes signing up for email alerts, monitoring local and international media, avoiding areas near oil infrastructure and military facilities, and sheltering in a secure structure if warned, since falling debris from interceptions poses the greatest risk.

Canada, South Korea, New Zealand and France

Canada’s advisory, last updated 11 October, tells citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. It goes further for specific areas, advising against all travel to the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran, to areas within 30km of the Yemen border, and to the Riyadh airport. Ottawa warned that Canadians should prepare contingency plans that do not rely on government assistance to depart, and noted that photographing or sharing images of military sites or damage could bring severe penalties under local law. The British advice similarly urges people to avoid capturing or sharing images of conflict-related incidents.

South Korea raised its advisory for the whole of Saudi Arabia to Level 3, the second-highest on its four-tier scale, which recommends that citizens leave. The measure took effect at 10 p.m. Sunday. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun chaired a meeting with officials from 15 South Korean missions across the Middle East, calling on them to monitor rapidly shifting developments and energy supply conditions and to prepare for all scenarios.

New Zealand has told its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia, while France advises avoiding non-essential travel.

What travelers should do

Across the advisories, the guidance is consistent, and it includes postponing planned trips, including pilgrimage, reconfirming flights before heading to the airport, and minimising time there, considering land exits to the UAE or Qatar, keeping passports and travel documents current and avoiding photographing or sharing images of attacks or military sites.

With airspace closures and cancellations expected to continue, and governments warning that conditions could worsen with little notice, officials are urging foreign nationals to decide quickly whether to stay or go.

Read more: Japan advises against non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia