US STATE DEPARTMENT ORDERS STAFF TO LEAVE SAUDI ARABIA

The US State Department ordered non-emergency government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia from 23 October 2026, according to the US embassy in Riyadh. The embassy cited safety risks linked to hostilities involving Yemen’s Houthis. It said attacks on civilian airports and other infrastructure had caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruption. The embassy warned that “the hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area.” The date of the embassy’s announcement is given as either 25 or 28 October.

The embassy said government employees who remain in Saudi Arabia need special authorisation from the Chief of Mission to use any airport following missile and drone attacks. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh partially reopened for domestic flights and some international flights operated by national carriers; the reopening date is given as either 23 or 25 October. The embassy said some flights normally based in Riyadh were operating from Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Qassim. It said King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam remained operational, with delays and cancellations.

WWE has scheduled Crown Jewel in Riyadh for 7 November and plans to bring American wrestlers, employees and production staff to the event. The available information does not identify WWE or Crown Jewel as a target. The embassy urged US citizens flying into or out of Saudi Arabia to exercise “extreme caution”. It warned them about potential airport attacks, airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruption.