US Warns Citizens in Saudi Arabia Over Houthi Airport Threats

If you’ve got a flight booked through Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, this is one to watch. The US Mission in Saudi Arabia has told American citizens there to stay alert, pointing to ongoing public threats from the Houthis against airports and airspace across the Kingdom.

For anyone in Kuwait who flies through Jeddah, Riyadh or Dammam on the way to the Gulf, Europe or beyond, this kind of advisory matters even if you’re not American. Airspace closures and flight cancellations don’t check passports.

What exactly is the US Mission telling people?

The advisory asks American citizens in Saudi Arabia to check their flight status directly with airlines and airports before heading out, rather than assuming things will run as normal. That’s a practical step anyone can take, regardless of nationality, if you’re travelling through Saudi airspace in the near future.

The mission also advised against travel near the Yemen border and recommended following alerts put out by Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense authority. This comes as part of the broader security picture that has already seen similar alerts issued by the US and UK over Houthi activity.

Who needs special permission to travel where?

For US government employees based in or visiting Saudi Arabia, the rules are stricter. They now require special authorisation before travelling to six areas: Jizan, Asir, Najran, Qatif, Yanbu and Taif. On top of that, they’re barred entirely from travelling within 20 miles of the border with Yemen.

This list of restricted areas gives a rough sense of where US officials see the highest risk, though the advisory doesn’t spell out exactly why each location made the list.

Why is this happening now?

The advisory follows a string of recent incidents. Saudi airports have come under attack, with reports of deaths and dozens injured in recent strikes. A Houthi drone also targeted a power station near Madinah’s Grand Mosque earlier this month, and attacks on Saudi airports in Abha and Riyadh have already caused casualties. Saudi Arabia has also been building up its own defences, with Turkey and Pakistan agreeing to send troops to help protect the Kingdom.

What this means if you live in Kuwait

Kuwait sits right next door, and plenty of residents here fly through Saudi airports or transit Saudi airspace regularly, whether for Umrah, business or simply catching a connecting flight. None of this means you should cancel travel plans, but it’s a good moment to build in a bit of extra caution.

If you have a trip through Saudi Arabia coming up, check with your airline a day or two before departure rather than assuming the schedule will hold. Airlines flying through affected airspace have already had to adjust routes and timings during past incidents this year.

Domestic workers, students and families travelling for Umrah or Hajj preparation trips should keep an eye on official Saudi Civil Defense announcements as well, since these tend to be updated faster than general news coverage.

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