King Khalid International Airport, the main travel hub in Saudi Arabia, remains incredibly restricted after suffering attacks earlier in the month.
The airport has been closed since last week due to a deadly bombing by the Iran-backed Houthis earlier this month. Despite plans to reopen by Sunday, the airport was “still shut as of Monday,” per Bloomberg.
The airport is currently operating under a Notice to Airmen Advisory (NOA), which says that departures and landings can only occur if they’ve been given prior permission. The airport is reportedly not available for emergency landings currently.
Riyadh has been under attack as of late, just weeks before WWE and a high-profile boxing match remain scheduled to take place in the Saudi capital.
WWE’s November 7 trip to Riyadh for Crown Jewel remains on despite Saudi Arabia reporting that it suffered 20 attacks from the Houthis so far this month. Just a week before then, Riyadh is expected to welcome high-profile boxer Canelo Alvarez for a match against Christian Mbilli.
The U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs provided a security alert on Monday morning, warning Americans to “exercise heightened vigilance” while visiting the Middle East.
Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance due to the complex security environment. Be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions. Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area. Americans traveling to or from the Middle East should monitor information about airport and airline operations and develop contingency plans in advance. Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including U.S. businesses and other institutions.
The Canadian government, which is currently recommending a full avoidance of all non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia, is suggesting citizens who wish to leave the country by air “should consider using airports in neighbouring countries.”
Instability in the region has caused many international sports, entertainment and business events in the area to be postponed.
The annual Six Kings Slam, a tennis exhibition featuring a half-dozen of the top men’s players in the world, was moved from October to late December. The Saudi International golf tournament, typically a final event on the European and Asian tour, was postponed indefinitely. The Asian Football Confederation is reportedly considering delaying the 2027 Asian Cup, which is scheduled to begin in January, by a year.
Yet to follow in the footsteps of these major events are combat sports or professional wrestling, with the Canelo fight and Crown Jewel still on the schedule. With less than a month to go until either event, a rescheduling or postponement, if it were to happen, would be a last-minute call.
