Global Affairs Canada has issued a travel advisory warning against visiting Saudi Arabia and specific airports affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The advisory, released by the Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia, highlights recent targeting of airports in Riyadh and Dammam, with Riyadh airport currently closed. Saudi authorities attribute the recent attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to a missile strike by the Houthis, an Iran-backed militant group controlling parts of Yemen.
The advisory advises Canadian travelers in the area to consider booking flights through neighboring countries like Bahrain and Qatar, providing information on available ground transportation options to these destinations. Canadians with expiring visitor visas are urged to make arrangements to depart Saudi Arabia promptly, as the embassy cannot assist with visa extensions or fines for overstaying.
Travelers are cautioned to monitor their flight status closely, as flights may be disrupted by attacks without much advance notice.