Saudi Arabia travel: What the attacks means for tourists and pilgrims

View of Riyadh city centre from the terrace of the Al Faisaliah Tower. Following attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi airports, travellers are being warned against travelling to Saudi Arabia. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpaFollowing repeated attacks on airports in Saudi Arabia, foreign ministries around the world have been warning their citizens to avoid visits.

The airport in Riyadh is currently closed until Saturday night after at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured in an attack on the international airport in the Saudi capital last weekend.

International airlines had already suspended flights to the Saudi capital for the time being, while hundreds of flights to other Saudi cities have been cancelled, according to regional media.

Because of the escalating conflict between the kingdom and Iran-backed Houthi rebels, many tour operators have been cancelling trips to Saudi Arabia.

"The security situation in Saudi Arabia has become increasingly unpredictable amid renewed conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in neighbouring Yemen," adventure tour operator Intrepid said in an October 12 update. "As a result, some trips have been cancelled."

"Guests who had booked a trip to Saudi Arabia have been able to either rebook or receive their money back," says German travel group Dertour. "We have no further departures to Saudi Arabia until the end of the year," says Thomas Bohlander, managing director of German travel group Gebeco.

US tour operator Collette has cancelled all departures to the Middle East region until 2027. Meanwhile tours from some other operators remain suspended since a previous flare-up in the conflict in March.

Several Western governments have meanwhile updated their advisories to citizens. The US State Department urges Americans to "reconsider travel" to Saudi Arabia due to drone and missile threats, noting that commercial flights remain operational but "have been significantly disrupted at times."

The UK's Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to Saudi airports except Medina, citing escalating missile and drone threats.

Saudi Arabia, which has faced international criticism over its human rights record, opened up to tourists in 2019 with the introduction of tourist visas for travellers not visiting for business, family or religious reasons.

Western tour groups have since seen rising demand – particularly for round trips. However the current Middle East conflict is leading to a certain degree of uncertainty and reluctance to book, a Dertour spokeswoman says. However, the company does not expect a long-term drop in demand.

The next Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, will take place in May 2027. Many pilgrims take international flights to Jeddah and travel from there by train, bus or car to nearby Mecca, which does not have its own airport. Specialist tour operators offer travel packages for the Hajj.

Important: all Hajj trips are regulated via the state platform Nusuk. Pilgrims who have already booked and are currently concerned about the security situation should not cancel their trip hastily but should calmly monitor the situation and seek advice if in doubt.

To be able to withdraw from a trip without cancellation fees by citing a travel warning, the danger must still be concrete or highly likely at the time of departure. According to travel lawyers, three to four weeks before the start of the trip is considered reasonable.

Legally, government travel warnings are not a travel ban, but tour operators generally do not offer trips to countries for which such a warning applies. Warnings are considered strong evidence of the existence of exceptional circumstances, which is why holidaymakers can usually cancel booked package tours free of charge under EU law.

The legal situation is different for holidaymakers who booked flights directly with the airline – they can't withdraw from their ticket purchase free of charge by citing the travel warning.

Travellers may have to hope for goodwill from the airline in the form of a rebooking offer. If the flight is cancelled because of an airport closure, the money is refunded.

The Houthis say their attacks on Saudi Arabia are retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen. Saudi Arabia began a military campaign against the Houthis in 2015 and sees them as an ally of its rival Iran. Osamah Yahya/dpa