Dashain gone, Tihar uncertain: Nepali workers stranded in Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks disrupt flights

Houthi attacks disrupted Saudi Arabia’s air travel system after an attack on King Khalid International Airport. The airport shut down, and airlines cancelled or rescheduled services. This mattered especially to Nepali migrant workers, who had fixed leave periods, booked tickets, and exit-re-entry permits linked to their planned return dates.

Rajesh Rai had booked an October 11 flight from Riyadh to Kathmandu via Sharjah. After Riyadh closed, he travelled about 1,000 kilometres by bus to Jeddah, spending Rs7,000, but still could not fly. Direct Kathmandu-Dammam services also stopped, while Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines cancelled 18 scheduled flights.

Between October 8 and 25, about 45 percent of scheduled Saudi flights were cancelled. Workers faced extra transport costs, expensive replacement tickets, unclear refund options, and pressure from employers when leave ended. Airlines said services would resume when conditions became safe, but Himalaya Airlines could not give a date.

The Houthis are an armed political and military movement from Yemen. They have been involved in Yemen’s conflict and have launched attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region. The article identifies them as responsible for the attack that disrupted King Khalid International Airport.

An airport attack can shut terminals, damage or threaten airport facilities, and create risks for aircraft, passengers, and staff. Authorities may close the airport or limit flights while assessing safety. Airlines can then cancel services, reduce routes, or move passengers through other airports. The article reports that 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the attack, according to Saudi authorities.

The disruption spread beyond Riyadh. Jeddah and Dammam also faced cancellations and rescheduling, while foreign airlines reduced or suspended Riyadh services. Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines said passenger safety was the reason for their cancellations. This shows how regional violence can quickly affect ordinary international travel.

The disruption was exceptionally large. Reuters reported that more than 7,800 flights, or 45 percent of scheduled departures nationwide, were cancelled between October 8 and 25. This was not a small delay affecting one route. It affected airports across Saudi Arabia and disrupted international connections used by migrant workers.

Riyadh suffered the sharpest impact. Of 4,736 flights scheduled at King Khalid International Airport during that period, 4,071 were cancelled. That equals an 86 percent cancellation rate. Dammam cancelled 42 percent of scheduled flights, while Abha cancelled 46.7 percent. Direct Kathmandu-Dammam flights also stopped.

Riyadh airport partially reopened, but regular service had not returned when the workers were interviewed. Some Saudi carrier flights resumed, while foreign airlines reduced or suspended Riyadh services. Jeddah and Dammam continued to face cancellations and rescheduling, leaving passengers uncertain about replacement flights and return dates.

When flights are cancelled near the end of leave, migrant workers can become stuck between their employer’s camp and their home country. They may lose wages, pay for extra accommodation and airport journeys, and struggle to obtain food or clear information. Their planned family visit is delayed even though the leave period keeps running.

Rajesh Rai said Dashain had passed, Tihar was approaching, and his leave was nearly over. Workers whose contracts had ended faced particular pressure, so the Nepali Embassy asked employers to provide food and accommodation. Ganesh Rai said each unsuccessful trip to the airport cost about Rs2,000. Others reported fares reaching Rs100,000 one way.

An expiring exit-re-entry permit can make the situation more urgent because the worker’s authorised return window is limited. The article does not detail penalties or procedures after expiry. It does show workers waiting in uncertainty, seeking refunds or new flights, and considering difficult overland routes through Qatar or Bahrain.

An exit-re-entry permit is a Saudi immigration document allowing a foreign resident to leave the country temporarily and return while maintaining authorised residence and employment arrangements. It is different from a one-way final departure. For migrant workers, the permit connects a holiday abroad with the right to come back to Saudi Arabia.

Rajesh Rai had both employer-approved leave and an exit-re-entry visa for his planned journey to Nepal. His October 11 flight was cancelled after the Riyadh airport attack. He then travelled by bus to Jeddah, hoping to find another flight, but remained there without a confirmed departure. His leave continued to run out while airlines changed schedules.

This makes the permit important during a prolonged disruption. A worker may have a valid ticket but still need to manage the permit’s deadline. The article does not explain renewal rules or consequences after expiry. It records the practical fear: workers were unsure when they could return home and whether their authorisation would remain usable.

Stranded workers tried several alternatives, but none offered a dependable solution. They could travel to another Saudi airport, change their ticket date, request a refund, or search for connecting flights through other countries. They could also wait for services to resume. Each choice carried costs, delays, or unanswered immigration questions.

Rajesh Rai travelled about 1,000 kilometres from Riyadh to Jeddah by bus after hearing flights were operating there. He paid Rs7,000 but still remained stranded. Connecting flights through Air Arabia, flydubai, and Indian carriers were difficult to find. One worker said replacement one-way fares had reached Rs100,000. Airlines offered vouchers, refunds, or rebooking differently.

Umesh Pandey had already waited 18 days and was considering travelling by road to Qatar or Bahrain. He did not know the immigration procedures. Jeddah and Dammam also faced cancellations, so changing airports was not guaranteed. The article gives no confirmed overland solution or resumption date for all services.

Saudi Arabia’s large migrant workforce makes transport and immigration disruptions important far beyond individual passengers. Around 400,000 Nepalis work there, and about 7,000 people receive labour permits or renewals each month. A breakdown in flights can therefore affect workers, employers, families waiting in Nepal, and agencies handling travel and permits.

The article shows how these systems depend on one another. Workers need employer-approved leave, a valid exit-re-entry permit, a ticket, and an operating airport. When flights stopped, workers whose contracts had ended were especially vulnerable. The Nepali Embassy asked employers to provide food and accommodation, while workers contacted the embassy for information about where and from which airport they could travel.

The disruption also exposed wider practical pressures. Cancelled flights caused repeated airport trips, expensive replacement tickets, and mental stress. Until regular services returned, workers remained dependent on airline decisions, employer support, embassy assistance, and immigration procedures. The article does not state how many Nepalis were stranded.