Saudi Arabia's air travel is under threat from missile attacks, with King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh experiencing repeated assaults that have raised alarms for the tourism sector and the upcoming 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
According to a Saudi-led coalition, an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 of King Khalid International Airport on October 11, causing a fire. The day before, a missile attack by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels resulted in at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries, marking the deadliest assault in Saudi Arabia in over a decade.
Tourist travel has also been severely impacted. Saudi authorities have completely suspended operations at Riyadh airport, leading to the cancellation of over 600 flights since the airport's closure on October 10. Lufthansa Group has halted flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Air India, Etihad Airways, and FlyDubai have also canceled numerous routes. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned travelers to avoid using Saudi airports and airspace, except for those traveling to Mecca and Medina.
On October 11, the South Korean Foreign Ministry raised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 (recommend departure) effective from 10 p.m. local time. Citizens currently in Saudi Arabia are advised to leave unless necessary, and those planning to travel should cancel or postpone their trips. Foreign Minister Park Jin stated during a meeting on the situation at Middle Eastern embassies that the region's instability is deepening, with civilian infrastructure like airports being directly targeted and resulting in numerous casualties.
Saudi tourism has been struggling since the beginning of the year due to the unstable situation in the Middle East. According to the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the number of foreign tourists dropped by 13% in the first quarter to 8.3 million compared to the same period last year. Foreign tourist spending also decreased by 7% to 48 billion riyals (approximately $12.8 billion).
This downturn poses a challenge to the country's reform plan, Vision 2030, which aims to attract 150 million tourists annually and increase the tourism sector's contribution to GDP to 10% by 2030. Last year, the country welcomed 122 million tourists, a 5% increase from the previous year, with tourism spending reaching 300 billion riyals (about $80 billion). However, rising tensions in the region following the Iran conflict and the suspension of airline operations, coupled with repeated attacks on key transit points like Riyadh airport, have hindered these tourism goals.
As air travel is disrupted, sports events are also affected. The Saudi Pro League (SPL) announced on October 11 that the match between Abha and Al-Faisaly, scheduled for that day, has been postponed to October 27 due to travel issues preventing the visiting team from reaching Abha.
Concerns are mounting regarding the Asian Cup, which is just three months away. Riyadh, the target of the recent attacks, is set to host the tournament. The event, featuring 24 countries, will take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027, across eight venues in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar, with both the opening and final matches held in Riyadh. This will be the first time Saudi Arabia hosts the Asian Cup since its inception in 1956.
Participating nations are closely monitoring the situation. Japanese media outlets, including Sports Hochi and Gekisaka, reported on the concerns surrounding the Asian Cup and quoted Japan's head coach Hajime Moriyasu expressing his worries about the tournament's future, stating, "I hope the relevant authorities will create an environment where we can move and operate safely."
The South China Morning Post noted that following the resumption of Houthi attacks on October 6, 60,000 spectators attended the Gulf Cup final in Jeddah, highlighting the risks large sporting events in Gulf nations face amid ongoing conflict. Christian Kots Ulrikson, a researcher at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, told the SCMP that the Asian Cup will be the next major test. The SCMP also analyzed that if the conflict continues, it could jeopardize other significant regional events, including the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Due to the situation in the Middle East, some events have already relocated from Saudi Arabia. The eSports World Cup, a major event led by Saudi Arabia, was held in Paris this year instead of Riyadh, with organizers citing the "regional situation" due to the Iran conflict as the reason for the change in venue. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) canceled the Formula One Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix in March.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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