Houthi Attacks Kill Three at Abha and Riyadh Airports, Send Tadawul Index Down 2%

Three civilians were killed and 36 others injured in attacks launched by the Houthis on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 6 and 7, according to the Saudi civil aviation regulator.

Riyadh Air suspended its flights, while Saudia canceled 70% of its scheduled flights from Riyadh airport on Thursday, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm.

The main index of the Saudi Stock Exchange, Tadawul, fell by about 2% during Thursday's session to its lowest level since January 5, while events including the Red Sea International Film Festival and the New Global Sport Conference were canceled or postponed.

These attacks come after a previous wave of strikes targeting Saudi energy facilities pushed oil and gold prices higher in recent weeks, expanding the scope of risk from the energy sector to civil aviation and major events. This development directly impacts travelers and businesses in the region, as airport disruptions raise travel costs and delay tourism and entertainment investments targeted by Saudi Vision 2030.

What do these terms mean?

Tadawul Index: The main index of the Saudi stock market, measuring the performance of the largest listed companies, and is used as a gauge for market capital trends.

Cirium: A firm specializing in aviation data analytics, relied upon by news agencies and companies to measure flight numbers and cancellations.

Civil Aviation: Commercial flights designated for passenger transport and air freight, differing from military aviation in its objectives and management.