London Warns Its Citizens: Do Not Travel to Saudi Arabia Unless Necessary

The British Foreign Office advised its citizens against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, and banned travel to areas within ten kilometers of the border with Yemen. In an update issued on October 21 and still valid on October 23, the ministry stated that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was struck by a missile on October 10 and remains a potential target for further attacks.

The ministry explained that the Houthis have been launching missiles and drones at several locations in Saudi Arabia since July 13, and that there is an escalating threat targeting airports, military and defense buildings, military bases, ports, and energy infrastructure in cities including Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Yanbu, in addition to shipping in the Red Sea. It warned that further attacks on airports and new cancellations are highly likely.

The ministry stated that Britons wishing to leave Saudi Arabia should consider traveling overland to a neighboring country and flying from there, while planning the journey carefully and checking entry and exit requirements in the transit country. It cautioned that travel insurance may be invalidated if a person travels against the ministry's advice.

Regarding staying in Saudi Arabia, the ministry called on Britons to register for travel alerts, follow instructions from local authorities and civil defense, avoid photographing or sharing conflict-related incidents, and stay away from the perimeter of oil facilities and military sites. It also asked them to monitor local and international media and check booking confirmations and flight status before heading to the airport.

What do these terms mean?

Travel advice: Guidance issued by a foreign ministry to its citizens outlining the risks of traveling to a specific country or region, which may range from extreme caution to travel bans.

All but essential travel: A warning indicating that travelers should postpone non-essential trips and limit travel strictly to urgent reasons.

Travel insurance: A policy covering emergency costs during a trip, such as medical treatment, flight cancellation, or lost luggage, which may become invalid if the traveler goes against their country's advice.