Travel · Crime, scams & Britons abroad · 13 October 2026
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to most of Saudi Arabia
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office says it has updated travel advice for Saudi Arabia due to regional tensions. It says non-essential travel is advised against in several provinces and to most airports.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office says it has updated its travel advice for Saudi Arabia. The update advises against all but essential travel to most provinces and airports. This decision follows regional tensions and Houthi attacks.
It says non-essential travel is advised against in Aseer, Riyadh, Najran, and Jizan provinces, as well as Taif, Jeddah, and Dammam. It also advises against non-essential travel to all Saudi airports except Medina International Airport. British nationals should avoid King Khalid International Airport following an incident on 10 October 2026 at 3pm. It notes that Houthi attacks have targeted airports, military bases, ports, and energy infrastructure since 13 July.
It says travel is advised against within 10km of the Yemen border. It advises British nationals leaving Saudi Arabia to consider traveling by land to a neighboring country to fly out. It states there is a risk of further attacks or escalation involving Iran despite a memorandum of understanding announced on 17 June 2026. It warns that travel insurance may be invalid if travelers ignore FCDO advice.
The announcement does not specify the exact nature of the incident at King Khalid International Airport beyond the date and time. It does not provide details on the specific terms of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.
Written by StreetOwl from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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