flydubai Saudi Arabia Flights 2026: Riyadh, Abha Suspended — Indians Affected
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 to Riyadh and Abha remain suspended until 16 November 2026 following Houthi drone and missile attacks on King Khalid International Airport and Abha Airport — Indian carriers Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air have also cancelled Saudi routes through mid-November.
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 to Riyadh and Abha remain suspended until at least 16 November 2026 following repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s aviation infrastructure — and Indian carriers Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air have also cancelled flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah through mid-November.
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 disruption is part of a sweeping aviation crisis affecting more than 20 international airlines operating to and from Saudi Arabia. The trigger is a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports — including a deadly strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 October 2026, which Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed killed 14 people and injured over 300.
Abha International Airport was also hit on 6–7 October 2026, killing 2 and injuring 28. The scale of the disruption, the number of airlines affected, and the extended suspension timelines — with some carriers cancelling through early 2027 — make this one of the most significant aviation disruptions in the Middle East in recent years.
flydubai Saudi Arabia Flights 2026: Suspended and Open Routes
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 cancellations specifically cover Dubai–Riyadh and Dubai–Abha, both suspended through 16 November 2026 inclusive. flydubai’s booking platform shows flights from 17 November for these two routes. Several other flydubai routes to Saudi Arabia remain either operational or without confirmed restart dates.
| flydubai Saudi Arabia Flights 2026 — Route Status | Status |
|---|---|
| Dubai – Riyadh | ❌ Suspended through 16 November 2026 |
| Dubai – Abha | ❌ Suspended through 16 November 2026 |
| Dubai – Jeddah | ✅ Open for booking from 6 November |
| Dubai – Dammam | ✅ Open for booking from 10 November |
| Dubai – Gassim, Ha’il, Tabuk, Taif, The Red Sea (RSI) | ✅ Operational |
| Dubai – AlUla, Hofuf, Jouf, Madinah, Nejran, Neom, Qaisumah, Yanbu | ⚠️ Not available for booking — status unclear |
Passengers holding flydubai tickets on suspended routes can check rebooking and refund options through the Manage Your Booking section on flydubai.com. Those who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly. flydubai has stated it is monitoring the situation and will update customers through official channels.
Indian Airlines Also Suspending Saudi Arabia Flights 2026
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 disruption directly affects Indian travelers connecting through Dubai to Saudi Arabia — but Indian carriers flying direct from India are also impacted. Air India and Air India Express have suspended flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam from Indian cities through 14 November 2026. IndiGo has cancelled flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah through 14 November. Akasa Air has suspended its Jeddah service through 18 November and Riyadh through 30 November — the longest suspension among Indian carriers.
For the large Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia — over 2.4 million Indian nationals live and work in the Kingdom — these suspensions create significant disruption for travel plans, family visits, and business trips. Indian workers in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam relying on these routes for travel to and from India should check their airline’s website directly for the latest status.
| Indian Airlines — Saudi Arabia Flights Suspended 2026 | Routes Suspended | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Air India + Air India Express | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam | 14 November 2026 |
| IndiGo | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah | 14 November 2026 |
| Akasa Air | Jeddah | 18 November 2026 |
| Akasa Air | Riyadh | 30 November 2026 |
Which Other Airlines Have Suspended Saudi Arabia Flights 2026
The disruption to flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 is part of a much wider pattern. Etihad Airways has suspended Abu Dhabi–Riyadh and Abu Dhabi–Dammam flights (passenger and cargo) through 19 November. Emirates suspended Dubai–Riyadh and Dubai–Dammam flights, with some services scheduled to resume from 8 November.
Air Arabia suspended Sharjah–Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Taif with no restart date confirmed. Qatar Airways temporarily suspended Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, and Taif.
European and long-haul carriers have extended their suspensions considerably further. Cathay Pacific has suspended Riyadh through 31 January 2027. Air France cancelled Riyadh through 12 December.
British Airways has pushed its London Heathrow–Riyadh restart back to 11 January 2027 and permanently discontinued London–Jeddah. KLM cancelled Riyadh and Dammam through 27 November. Delta postponed the launch of its Atlanta–Riyadh route to March 2027. SalamAir suspended Riyadh and Dammam through 30 November. Scoot cancelled Singapore–Jeddah through 28 February 2027.
| Other Major Airlines — Saudi Arabia Suspensions 2026 | Routes | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi – Riyadh, Dammam | 19 November 2026 |
| Emirates | Dubai – Riyadh, Dammam | ~8 November (resuming) |
| Air Arabia | Sharjah – Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, Taif | No date confirmed |
| Qatar Airways | Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, Taif | No date confirmed |
| Cathay Pacific | Riyadh | 31 January 2027 |
| British Airways | London – Riyadh | 11 January 2027 |
| Air France | Riyadh | 12 December 2026 |
| KLM | Riyadh, Dammam | 27 November 2026 |
| Scoot | Singapore – Jeddah | 28 February 2027 |
What Caused the flydubai Saudi Arabia Flights 2026 Suspension
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 suspensions are a direct consequence of Houthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia’s commercial airport infrastructure. Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia was struck on 6–7 October 2026 — GACA confirmed 2 deaths and 28 injuries.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was struck repeatedly, with the 10 October 2026 attack being the deadliest — GACA initially confirmed 12 deaths and 309 injuries, with the final toll rising to 14 killed. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the casualties and the airport damage that forced airlines to suspend or reroute operations.
As of 5 November 2026, emergency warnings were also issued for Yanbu and Sharurah. Saudi civil defence authorities later said the immediate danger at those locations had passed, but the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the Medina region and a drone over the Eastern Province.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened on 25 October, but under restrictions — some Saudia flights have been rerouted via Al Qassim or Dammam with passengers continuing by bus, underscoring the airport’s limited operational capacity.
Practical Tips for Indians Affected by Saudi Arabia Flight Suspensions
1 — Check your airline directly for the latest status. The situation is dynamic and suspension end dates are being revised regularly. Visit your airline’s official website — Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, or flydubai — and check the Manage Booking section for real-time updates on your specific flight. Do not rely on news reports alone, as airline decisions are updated faster than media coverage.
2 — Rebooking and refunds — act immediately. Most airlines are offering free rebooking or full refunds for cancelled flights to affected Saudi airports. flydubai directs passengers to Manage Your Booking on flydubai.com or to their travel agent. Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air have similar self-service rebooking portals. Refunds to bank accounts or cards typically take 7–10 business days. Act now — do not wait until close to departure.
3 — Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia — travel advisory. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not issued a full travel advisory against Saudi Arabia as of this writing, but Indian nationals in Riyadh, Abha, and affected cities should monitor the MEA’s travel advisory portal at mea.gov.in and register with the nearest Indian consulate if travel disruption is expected to extend.
4 — Alternative routing options. For Indians who must travel to Saudi Arabia urgently, Jeddah (JED) is currently the most accessible point — several airlines including flydubai (from 6 November), Air India, and IndiGo are operating Jeddah flights. Dammam (DMM) is also opening up. If your destination is Riyadh, check whether routing via Jeddah or Dammam with a domestic Saudi connection is feasible.
5 — Travel insurance is essential. Indians travelling to or through Saudi Arabia or booking future tickets to the region should check their travel insurance policy for war risk and airspace disruption clauses. Many standard travel insurance policies exclude losses arising from conflict or airspace closures. Carry USD cash as a contingency — UPI does not work in Saudi Arabia.
FAQs — flydubai Saudi Arabia Flights 2026
Q1: Are flydubai flights to Riyadh and Abha cancelled in November 2026?
Yes — flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 to Riyadh and Abha are suspended through 16 November 2026 inclusive. flydubai’s booking platform shows availability from 17 November for these two routes, though passengers should confirm directly with flydubai as the situation remains subject to change.
Jeddah flights are bookable from 6 November and Dammam from 10 November. Passengers holding cancelled tickets should visit flydubai.com’s Manage Your Booking section for rebooking or refund options.
Q2: Are Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air flying to Saudi Arabia in November 2026?
Flights are suspended but partially. Air India and Air India Express have cancelled Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam flights through 14 November 2026. IndiGo has cancelled Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah through 14 November.
Akasa Air has suspended Jeddah through 18 November and Riyadh through 30 November. Indian travelers should check each airline’s website for the latest resumption dates, as these are subject to revision based on the security situation.
Q3: Why are flights to Saudi Arabia suspended in November 2026?
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 and the broader airline suspensions are a direct result of Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s commercial airports.
Abha International Airport was struck on 6–7 October 2026 (2 killed, 28 injured) and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit repeatedly, with the 10 October 2026 attack killing 14 people and injuring over 300, confirmed by Saudi Arabia’s GACA. The attacks forced airlines worldwide to suspend, reroute, or restrict operations to Saudi Arabia, with some carriers extending cancellations into early 2027.
Final Word
flydubai Saudi Arabia flights 2026 disruption reflects a rapidly evolving security situation that has grounded or restricted dozens of airlines across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and India. For the millions of Indians who live, work, and travel between India and Saudi Arabia, the near-term picture is challenging — but Jeddah and Dammam are gradually reopening, and most Indian carriers have set mid-November as their current resumption date for Riyadh. Stay updated through official airline channels, check your refund and rebooking options without delay, and monitor MEA advisories for the latest guidance on travel to the Kingdom.
Also Read:
- UAE Travel Advisory July 2026: What Indian Travelers Must Know
- Air India Singapore Airlines 2026: What the Partnership Means for Indians
- OCI Cardholders India Travel 2026: Key Rules You Must Know
Official Sources:
- Gulf News — flydubai Saudi Arabia Flights: Riyadh, Abha Suspended Until November 16
- The National News — Saudi Arabia Flight Cancellations: Which Airlines Are Suspending Services
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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