UK Widens Saudi Arabia Travel Advice to the Whole Country: Avoid All but Essential Travel

The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice late on Friday, 16 October 2026 (24 Mehr 1405), and now advises against all but essential travel to every part of Saudi Arabia. According to Khabaronline, citing IRNA, London also told its nationals to avoid areas within 10 kilometres of Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen.

The new notice says that after missile and drone attacks in recent months, the risk of strikes on Saudi airports, military sites, ports and energy facilities has risen, and further attacks and disruption to passenger flights remain likely. Citing the 10 October (18 Mehr) incident at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, the UK asked its citizens not to go there until security is assured. The ministry had earlier restricted non-essential travel to some regions and most Saudi airports; the advice now covers the whole country. Al Jazeera's live coverage on 17 October reported the same advice, issued after attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthis.