Travel advice for Saudi Arabia

Avoid all travel to Saudi Arabia, including airport transit, because repeated Houthi attacks and threats against airports, infrastructure and targets have worsened security. Anyone there should monitor local media, follow official instructions, seek shelter from debris when warned, and avoid lingering near incidents or photographing or sharing images of attacks. Airports may close, with cancellations, delays and diversions, so verify flights directly and consider leaving overland via Qatar or Bahrain.

Avoid all travel to Saudi Arabia because of the risk of air attacks and military activity. If warned, seek shelter in the nearest safe building, away from windows, doors and open areas. Do not photograph military targets, drones, missiles, government buildings or diplomatic missions. Avoid oil facilities, security or military sites, and US and Israeli facilities. Respect local customs, especially during Ramadan, and dress modestly, as violations can be punished.

Germany advises avoiding all travel for Saudi Arabia.

Defer all travel to Saudi Arabia because missile and drone attacks on civilian aviation and energy infrastructure have increased, airspace shutdowns are more frequent, and operations at King Khalid International Airport have been suspended. Those already in the country should avoid the airport and other high-risk areas and avoid non-essential travel within the kingdom. Makkah and parts of Madinah are off-limits to non-Muslims.

Avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia. The government also advises against all travel to Saudi Arabia’s border area with Yemen, up to 50 kilometres from the Yemeni border.

Avoid travel to the Yemen border area in Najran, Asir and Jazan, where a travel warning applies. In the rest of Saudi Arabia, avoid non-essential travel because of high security risk and regional tensions, remain especially alert, avoid large gatherings and follow local instructions. Avoid airports and their immediate surroundings where possible, except airports in Makkah and Medina, and do not photograph or film damage, as significant flight disruption continues.

Avoid all travel within about 100 kilometres of Yemen’s border and to Abha and Khamis Mushait because military operations and Houthi missile and drone attacks create a very high risk. Avoid all non-essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia because regional tensions and terrorist attacks make the security situation unstable and unpredictable. Stay away from military and energy infrastructure; flooding is a particular risk in Jeddah.

Postpone travel to Saudi Arabia because military operations are unpredictable, and consider leaving immediately if already there. Houthi drone and ballistic missile attacks have hit airports, industrial sites and energy facilities. Entry is prohibited within 10 to 30 kilometres of the Saudi and Yemeni border. Avoid government, industrial, energy and military facilities, and within Riyadh avoid King Khalid International Airport and the Diplomatic Quarter, leaving these zones immediately.

Avoid all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia because regional hostilities may cause attacks on military installations or strategic infrastructure, missile or drone debris over urban areas, and flight delays or cancellations. Avoid all travel to and from King Khalid International Airport and non-essential travel to other Saudi airports, and consider airports in neighbouring countries. If instructed, shelter in a windowless room or basement and avoid military, security and strategic sites.

Avoid non-essential travel to most of Saudi Arabia because drone and missile attacks from Houthi-held areas of Yemen make security unpredictable, including attacks causing casualties at Riyadh and Dammam airports. Do not travel to the 10 km strip along Yemen's border, including Najran, where shelling and smuggling occur. Avoid airports, military sites and critical infrastructure, stay indoors during attacks and follow instructions. Drugs, LGBTQ+ expression and criticism risk severe punishment.

Avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia because of armed clashes, terrorist attacks and instability. Avoid all travel to the Yemen border area within 80 km and to Riyadh, and avoid non-essential travel to Abha International Airport, Al Qatif and nearby suburbs, including Al Awamiyan, and the Iraq border. Comply with local laws, which carry severe penalties. Watch for violent protests in Qatif and Al Hasa, infectious diseases and crime outside cities.

Reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia because missile and drone attacks by Iran and Iran-backed Houthis, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and enforcement of local and social media laws create risks. Do not travel to the Yemen border because of terrorism. U.S. government personnel cannot travel near that border and require special authorization for Qatif, Taif, Yanbu, and the provinces of Jizan, Asir, and Najran.

British citizens should avoid all but essential travel to parts of Saudi Arabia and avoid all travel to certain parts. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months after arrival and get a visa, as overstaying can cause fines, detention, deportation or bans. Hajj requires a separate visa. During Hajj, visitors not performing the pilgrimage may be prevented from flying to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif, but can enter through other airports.

Australia advises avoiding non-essential travel for Saudi Arabia.

Avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia because the security situation is volatile. Avoid all travel to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Asir, Jazan and Najran provinces, and within 30 km of the Yemen border due to airport disruption, strikes, drones, military debris and spillover. Zones within 20 km of the Iraq border are out of bounds. Exercise extreme caution in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Under the Amber travel alert, Hong Kong residents who plan to visit Saudi Arabia or are already there should monitor conditions, attend to personal safety and follow local announcements. Conflict between Iran and Israel, airstrikes and attacks on airports in Riyadh and southern Saudi Arabia, including Najran, have caused casualties, damage and air traffic disruption. Nearby airspace closures also cause temporary or intermittent airport closures and disrupted flights.