Indians in emergency can leave Saudi Arabia via neighbouring countries: Embassy issues advisory amid Houthi strikes

The embassy’s advice combines personal safety guidance with practical travel information. It matters because fighting involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis has affected flights and triggered air raid sirens in Riyadh. Indians are being urged to reduce exposure to danger and rely on verified information.

Residents should stay indoors, follow instructions from Saudi authorities, and avoid circulating or reposting videos or news about the events. Those needing to leave urgently may consider flights from airports in neighboring Gulf countries, especially Qatar and Bahrain, subject to entry requirements.

The embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah continue to function normally. Their outsourced passport and attestation services through VFS also remain available. The embassy asked travelers to stay in regular contact with airlines and check the latest flight status before making travel arrangements.

Four Indian airlines temporarily cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 17. They were Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo, and Air India. The cancellations reflect the immediate effect of heightened security risks and make it harder for Indian travelers to leave or reach Saudi Arabia through Riyadh.

The disruption was not total across Saudi aviation. Scheduled Saudia flights continued from Dammam, Jeddah, and Medina. Flynas also operated a scheduled service on the Dammam–Lucknow route. These routes provided limited alternatives for passengers affected by Riyadh cancellations.

The embassy asked Indians to remain in regular contact with their airlines and verify the latest flight status. Schedules can change as the security situation develops. Travelers should therefore avoid relying only on earlier bookings or general airline schedules when planning departure.

The embassy offered a regional escape route for Indians who urgently need to leave Saudi Arabia while Riyadh flights are disrupted. They may look for available flights from neighboring Gulf airports, particularly those in Qatar and Bahrain. This creates an alternative when direct or local options are unavailable.

The practical mechanism is indirect travel. A passenger would first arrange a flight from Saudi Arabia to an airport in Qatar or Bahrain, then use available onward or connecting travel. The embassy did not promise seats or specify particular airlines, so travelers must check current schedules and requirements themselves.

The advisory adds an important restriction: travel from other countries is subject to obtaining a visa from those countries. Indians should confirm entry or transit permission before departure. They should also stay in contact with airlines because routes and flight availability may change during the tensions.

The Houthis are a political and armed movement from Yemen. The article identifies them as an Iran-aligned Houthi group and reports continuing hostilities between the group and Saudi Arabia. This conflict is the immediate security background behind the embassy’s warning and the flight disruptions around Riyadh.

According to the article, air raid sirens sounded and explosions were heard in Riyadh. The Houthis also said they had fired a ballistic missile toward King Khalid International Airport, which the article says had been hit by a string of deadly attacks in recent days. These events increased concern for civilians and aviation.

The article does not provide a fuller explanation of the Houthis’ origins, political goals, or the causes of their conflict with Saudi Arabia. In general, they are a Yemeni movement engaged in a broader regional struggle, but those details are outside the article’s account.

Indian tourists, Umrah pilgrims, and business travelers who overstayed because tensions prevented their departure can leave Saudi Arabia without paying fines. This temporary relief matters because cancelled flights and reduced travel options could otherwise turn an involuntary overstay into an immigration penalty.

The rule applies to people who arrived on tourist, Umrah, or business visas and then could not leave because of the tensions. Once flights become available, they should arrange departure rather than remain in the country. The embassy specifically emphasized that people with expired visas should exit at the earliest opportunity.

The waiver removes fines, but it does not mean travelers can ignore their visa status indefinitely. Passengers still need to monitor airlines, confirm available routes, and follow Saudi authorities’ requirements. The advisory therefore combines financial relief with a clear instruction: leave promptly when travel becomes possible.

A ballistic missile is a weapon that receives strong propulsion during launch and then travels along a high, curved trajectory before descending toward its target. It can cover long distances at high speed. The article reports that the Houthis said they fired one toward King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

An airport is especially sensitive because aircraft, fuel, passengers, and staff are concentrated there. A reported missile threat can prompt air raid sirens, temporary airspace restrictions, flight suspensions, diversions, or delays while authorities assess the danger. Even without a confirmed impact, airlines may cancel services to protect people.

The article links this security environment to cancellations by four Indian airlines and reports sirens and explosions in Riyadh. Saudia and Flynas continued selected services, but passengers were told to verify schedules. The broader implication is that aviation can remain disrupted while authorities and airlines respond to changing threats.

An embassy represents its country in the host country and communicates official advice to citizens. A consulate provides consular help, often including passport and related services, for nationals in its area. During a security crisis, these offices can share warnings, explain travel options, and coordinate information with local authorities and airlines.

Here, the embassy in Riyadh advised Indians to stay indoors, avoid sharing event-related material, and follow local instructions. It also identified alternative airports in Qatar and Bahrain, explained the visa issue, and reported which flights were operating. The consulate in Jeddah continued functioning, as did outsourced passport and attestation services through VFS.

These offices cannot guarantee flights or remove every travel restriction. Their role is to provide verified guidance and consular support while travelers make decisions. The embassy also urged Indians to remain in regular contact with airlines and check the latest status before traveling.