Riyadh Airport Reopens 2026: Flights Resume After 2-Week Houthi Attack Closure
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh reopens on 25 October 2026 after approximately two weeks of closure caused by Houthi missile and drone strikes — but Saudi air defences shot down two drones in the Riyadh area on the same morning flights resumed.
Riyadh airport reopens on 25 October 2026 after a two-week closure caused by repeated Houthi strikes — Terminal 1 handling domestic flights and Terminal 2 handling international flights, but the Houthis have warned the airport remains a military target.
Riyadh airport reopens after one of the most serious disruptions to Saudi aviation in over a decade. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resumed flight operations on Sunday, 25 October 2026, approximately two weeks after Houthi missile and drone strikes forced it to shut down. The airport’s Saturday announcement confirmed a split-terminal arrangement: Terminal 1 for domestic flights, Terminal 2 for international flights operated by national carriers.
Flight-tracking data confirmed the first departure — a Riyadh-to-Jeddah domestic flight — took off early Sunday morning. For Indian travellers with Saudi Arabia bookings, this is significant but not the all-clear: the Houthi military spokesman has explicitly warned that the airport “remains unsafe and serves as a military target,” and Saudi air defences shot down two drones in the Riyadh area just hours after reopening was announced.
The situation remains active. Riyadh airport reopens — but the threat that closed it has not ended.
What Happened: Houthi Attacks That Closed Riyadh Airport
The closure of Riyadh airport followed a series of escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia after the breakdown of a multi-year truce in the summer of 2026.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Truce collapse | Summer 2026 — years-long ceasefire between Saudi-led coalition and Houthis broke down |
| Deadliest Riyadh airport strike | Earlier in October 2026 — 13 killed, 300+ wounded |
| Airport closure duration | Approximately 2 weeks |
| Riyadh airport reopens | 25 October 2026 |
| Terminal arrangement on reopening | Terminal 1: domestic |
| Drones shot down near Riyadh | 2 drones intercepted by Saudi air defences on 25 October, hours after reopening |
| Houthi statement on reopening | “The airport remains unsafe and serves as a military target for our forces” |
The attack earlier this month was described as the deadliest strike on Saudi Arabia in over a decade. A Pakistani national was killed and 11 others wounded in a subsequent strike. The Houthis have made clear that further attacks are being planned.
Riyadh Airport Reopens: What Indian Travellers Need to Know Right Now
India has one of the largest communities in Saudi Arabia — over 2.6 million Indian workers, professionals, and residents — and significant air traffic between Indian cities and Riyadh. Flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai all connect to King Khalid International Airport. The Riyadh airport reopening does not automatically mean all routes are restored or that the security situation is stable.
What is confirmed:
Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 (international — national carriers) are operational from 25 October 2026. The first flight departed for Jeddah early Sunday.
What is NOT confirmed:
Full restoration of all international routes. The terminal announcement specifies “national carriers” for international flights — Indian carriers operating to Riyadh, or the status of code-share flights, may differ. Check directly with your airline.
What remains a live risk:
Saudi air defences shot down two drones in the Riyadh area on the same morning the airport reopened. The Houthi military spokesman’s statement that the airport is “a military target” is an active threat declaration, not historical commentary.
Practical Steps for Indian Travellers with Riyadh Bookings
1 — Verify your specific flight is operating. Riyadh airport reopening does not mean your particular flight is confirmed. Call your airline — Air India, IndiGo, Air Arabia, Flynas, SaudiGo — directly and confirm the flight is operating before leaving for the airport.
2 — Check which terminal your flight uses. The terminal split (T1 domestic, T2 international national carriers) is new. If you have a connecting domestic leg within Saudi Arabia, confirm your terminal. Arriving at the wrong terminal adds time and stress in an already disrupted airport.
3 — Register with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. Indian citizens currently in Saudi Arabia or travelling there now should register with the Indian Embassy. Emergency helpline: +966-11-454-1739. The Embassy will be the first point of contact if the situation escalates again.
4 — Check MEA travel advisory before booking or travelling. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (mea.gov.in) issues its own travel advisories independent of foreign governments. Check current MEA guidance for Saudi Arabia before making any new bookings or confirming existing ones.
5 — Buy travel insurance with conflict and cancellation cover. Standard travel insurance often excludes “war and civil unrest” events. For Saudi Arabia travel right now, confirm your policy explicitly covers flight cancellation due to conflict, and carries medical evacuation cover. The attack earlier this month wounded over 300 people — airport zones are not low-risk environments right now.
6 — Carry USD cash. Saudi Riyal is available at exchange counters in India, but carry USD as a backup. UPI, PhonePe, and Google Pay do not work in Saudi Arabia. International Visa and Mastercard work at most ATMs and larger establishments.
FAQs — Riyadh Airport Reopens 2026
Q1: Is it safe to fly to Riyadh right now after the airport reopens?
Riyadh airport has resumed operations from 25 October 2026, but the security situation remains volatile. Saudi air defences shot down two drones in the Riyadh area on the same morning the airport reopened. The Houthi military spokesperson stated explicitly that the airport “remains unsafe and serves as a military target.” Ten countries including the UK, US, Australia, and France have active travel warnings for Saudi Arabia. Indian travellers should check MEA guidance, confirm with their airline, and make a personal assessment of whether travel is essential before proceeding.
Q2: Which terminals are open at King Khalid International Airport Riyadh?
From 25 October 2026, Terminal 1 handles domestic flights within Saudi Arabia and Terminal 2 handles international flights operated by national carriers. The arrangement was announced on Saturday, 25 October, ahead of the first departures. If you are flying an Indian carrier or a non-Saudi international airline, confirm with your airline which terminal applies to your flight and whether your route has been fully restored.
Q3: What happened at Riyadh airport before it closed?
Houthi forces launched repeated strikes on King Khalid International Airport after the collapse of a multi-year ceasefire in summer 2026. The deadliest single attack killed 13 people and wounded over 300, described as the most deadly strike on Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. A subsequent strike killed one Pakistani national and wounded 11 others. The cumulative damage and security risk forced the airport to suspend operations for approximately two weeks before the 25 October reopening.
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Official Sources
India Ministry of External Affairs — Travel Advisories
Indian Embassy Riyadh — Emergency Contacts
Final Word
Riyadh airport reopens — but Indian travellers should read that headline carefully. The airport is operational again after two weeks of Houthi-forced closure, terminals have been reassigned, and the first flights have departed. What has not changed is the threat environment: active drone attacks on the day of reopening, a standing Houthi declaration that the airport is a military target, and travel warnings from 10 countries still in place. Travel to Riyadh right now requires a sober assessment of necessity, not just a flight status check.
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Aaseem Bhardwaj is a journalist, seasoned traveler and IT professional based in India. With firsthand travel experience across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Middle East and Europe, Aaseem founded Travel Man Today to provide reliable visa updates and travel news for Indian passport holders. He has personally traveled to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, UAE and Europe. Follow his travel vlogs on YouTube at @travelmantoday
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