Following a drone strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed one Indian national and halted flights, the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia released a fresh advisory on 13 October 2026 urging all Indians in the Kingdom to “remain indoors, avoid sharing unverified videos, and check flight status before travel.” The Consulate General in Jeddah issued a parallel notice aimed at Umrah pilgrims. Key Points • Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and IndiGo have suspended services to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until at least 17 October. Travellers may reroute through Doha or Manama but must obtain the requisite visas. • 24×7 control rooms have been activated in Riyadh (+966-11-4884697) and Jeddah (+966-12-6673371) for emergency assistance. • Indian nationals are warned not to circulate social-media footage of attacks, which could violate Saudi cyber-crime laws. Business-Mobility Implications More than two million Indian professionals work in Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf hub is a key stopover on Europe–India routes. Companies should review evacuation plans and consider short-term remote-work options for staff stranded in the Kingdom. Projects depending on engineer rotations via Riyadh are advised to shift personnel through Dubai until flight schedules normalise. Travel-Management Tips 1. Check GCAA NOTAMs daily; flight suspensions are rolling and airline waivers differ. 2. Ensure employees hold multi-entry Schengen or Qatar visas if over-land or third-country rerouting becomes necessary. 3. Communicate embassy helpline numbers via SMS to all mobile phones registered in Saudi Arabia. Outlook Embassy officials said additional advisories would be posted on X (@IndianEmbRiyadh) as the security situation evolves. A review of suspended flights is expected after 17 October, but civil-aviation analysts warn that further missile activity could prolong disruptions.
Source: Times of India / Economic Times
