Cancellations across Saudi Arabia have now approached 1,500, affecting Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam and creating continuing knock-on effects for UAE travellers, airlines and Umrah passengers.
RIYADH: Saudi airport cancellations approached 1,500 across three major airports as ongoing security incidents disrupted air travel throughout the kingdom on October 12, 2026.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24, reviewed by Gulf Business, recorded 871 cancellation listings on Sunday and another 614 on Monday across Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. The combined figure reached 1,485, although flights connecting these airports may appear more than once in the figures.
The disruption follows repeated attacks on Saudi aviation infrastructure, prompting airlines to adjust schedules and passengers to reconsider their travel plans.
Which Saudi airports face the most flight cancellations?
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport recorded the highest number of cancellations.
Data collected at approximately 5.30 am Saudi time on Monday showed 436 cancelled flights at Riyadh, representing 64 per cent of scheduled services.
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded 115 cancellations, while Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport reported 63.
Sunday brought even greater disruption. Riyadh recorded 655 cancellations, equivalent to 98 per cent of scheduled flights.
Jeddah reported 158 cancellations and 393 delays, while Dammam recorded 58 cancellations and 115 delays.
The latest figures highlight the continuing pressure on Saudi Arabia’s aviation network.
Why are so many Saudi flights being cancelled?
Saudi airport cancellations intensified following attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
A major strike on Saturday killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to Saudi aviation authorities.
Another attack struck Riyadh airport’s Terminal 4 on Sunday, killing one person and injuring 11 others.
Authorities also reported an incident targeting Dammam airport and began assessing potential damage.
Airlines continue to monitor security conditions before deciding whether to operate affected services.
How are UAE airlines and Umrah pilgrims affected?
Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai have adjusted flights connecting the UAE with Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai has suspended Riyadh services until October 14, while Etihad has listed selected cancellations through October 13.
Emirates has also cancelled several services connecting Dubai with Saudi destinations.
The disruption has affected Umrah pilgrims and international travellers. Bangladesh’s expatriates’ welfare ministry reported that approximately 500 Bangladeshi passengers remained stranded in Riyadh following the attacks.
What should passengers do before travelling?
Travellers should check airline websites and mobile applications for updated flight information before leaving for airports.
Passengers should also review rebooking options, refunds and connecting flight arrangements directly with their carriers.
As Saudi airport cancellations continue, travellers should expect further schedule changes until airlines confirm normal operations.
Impact to expect
The disruption could affect tourism, religious travel, business activity and regional airline connectivity. Continued cancellations may increase rebooking demand, raise travel expenses and delay passengers across the Gulf and beyond. Airport safety assessments and airline decisions will determine how quickly services return to normal.
