Riyadh airport closure: Etihad cancels flights until October 19

Saudi Arabia has extended the suspension of operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport as officials conduct safety and readiness checks after weekend attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The General Authority of Civil Aviation did not provide a reopening date or time.

Etihad Airways has canceled all Abu Dhabi–Riyadh flights through Monday, October 19, extending UAE–Saudi capital disruption into next week. The airline noted that the situation remains dynamic and further changes are possible.

Flydubai has also canceled Riyadh flights through Wednesday, October 14, with services to Abha and Dammam affected up to that date. An official representative said they would monitor the situation and update customers through their channels.

Emirates and Air Arabia services to and from Riyadh have been affected, with Emirates reporting the six Dubai–Riyadh services canceled on Monday and some continued cancellations expected into Tuesday. Air Arabia’s flight status indicated cancellations for certain routes between Sharjah, Riyadh, and Abha.

The disruption has extended beyond Riyadh to other Saudi destinations, including Dammam, Jeddah, and Abha, with multiple flights canceled according to airline advisories and status listings. Cirium estimated that 46.4% of scheduled Saudi flights were canceled as of 4pm UAE time on Monday.

Travelers are advised to check their airline’s status before traveling and to review rebooking or refund options with their carrier. Passengers with onward connections should verify any changes needed for the rest of their itinerary.