Umrah and the regional situationDated facts and where to check
- Last updated:
- Written by:
- Hajra Fatima
- Reading time:
- 8 minutes
Short answer
As of 27/10/2026, Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia have disrupted flights, mainly at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The UK advises against all but essential travel to most of Saudi Arabia, Canada says to avoid non-essential travel, and the US is reported to rate Saudi Arabia Level 3, "Reconsider Travel". We cannot tell you whether to travel. Read your own government's advice, ask your airline for your flight's status and read your insurance policy before you decide.
On this page
This page records what official and reputable sources say, with the date of each item and a link. We do not predict events here or advise you whether to go. The situation changes quickly, so read the date at the top as the limit of what we know. Where a source says something newer than this page, believe the source.
What we know and what we could not confirm
Facts below come from government websites and news agencies named in the table. Where reports differ, we say so.
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 25/10/2026 | King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh said flights would resume after a two-week closure. Reports differ on how many flights actually operated. AFP reported explosions heard in Riyadh and said the Saudi-led coalition reported downing a ballistic missile and two drones. | AFP (Daily Star), Bloomberg |
| 24/10/2026 | Saudi civil defence responded to falling debris in the Makkah and Madinah regions after the coalition reported intercepting two Houthi missiles. The Houthis denied targeting Makkah and Madinah. | AFP (Daily Star) |
| 22/10/2026 | Canada updated its advice: "Avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia due to the volatile security situation in the region." It says to avoid all travel to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, to the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran, and to areas within 30 km of the Yemen border. On 27/10/2026 its safety section still described King Khalid International Airport as "currently closed", while other reports say it reopened on 25/10/2026. | travel.gc.ca |
| 21/10/2026 | The Associated Press reported that King Khalid International Airport was open to limited traffic, with domestic flights by Saudia and flynas operating. It said Lufthansa and Air France had cancelled flights through mid-November. The 25/10/2026 reports below describe a later reopening, so reports differ on dates. | AP (ClickOnDetroit) |
| 21/10/2026 | The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its advice. It advises against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border and against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia. It says travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice, and that further attacks on airports, disruption and cancellations are very likely. Still current on 27/10/2026. It also says King Khalid Airport "continues to be targeted". | gov.uk FCDO |
| 12/10/2026 | The US State Department's date for its Saudi Arabia advisory is reported as 12/10/2026, at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel", with Level 4 "Do Not Travel" for the Yemen border area. The official page blocked our automated check, so we could not read it directly. | travel.state.gov, as reported in search summaries |
| 10 to 11/10/2026 | Two attacks on King Khalid International Airport, claimed by the Houthis. Saudi GACA and the press report deaths and many injured. Reports differ on the numbers (12, 13 and 14 killed appear in different reports). Umrah travellers were among those hurt, according to Gulf News. Airport operations were suspended. | Gulf News, Khaleej Times, AFP |
| 09/10/2026 | Pakistan Airports Authority said flights to Saudi Arabia were continuing and that PIA had suspended Riyadh only. ARY News reported 42 flights cancelled at Pakistani airports that day. | ARY News |
| Early 10/2026 | Several airlines suspended Riyadh flights, including Air India, Lufthansa Group and flydubai, for periods that differed by airline. | Khaleej Times, ARY News |
| 13/07/2026 | The FCDO says the Houthis began launching missiles and drones at several places in Saudi Arabia from this date. | gov.uk FCDO |
What we could not confirm on 27/10/2026:
- No statement from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah about Umrah operations during these events. Its news page showed no items when we checked.
- The current schedule of Jeddah (King Abdulaziz) and Madinah airports. Pakistan's airports authority said Saudi flights were operating on 09/10/2026. We found no later official statement.
- Whether any airline has resumed all Saudi routes. Schedules differ by airline and change daily.
- Any October 2026 advisory from the Pakistan Foreign Office. We found a March 2026 advisory about the Middle East, which is not about these events.
We have left out claims that came only from social media.
How to check your flight
- Open your airline's website or app and look up your flight number. Do this the day before and again on the day.
- Call the airline's call centre if the app shows nothing. PIA asked passengers to call its call centre to confirm status before going to the airport.
- Check which airport you land at. A booking to Riyadh is not the same as one to Jeddah or Madinah. Operators quoted by Khaleej Times said passengers on cancelled Riyadh flights were being moved to Jeddah or Madinah.
- Ask your travel agent for the booking reference and the ticket number, and keep both.
- Read the FCDO line that fits this situation: "check that your booking is confirmed and the status of your flight before travelling to the airport".
Government advice, side by side
| Country | Advice as stated | Updated | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Against all but essential travel to most of Saudi Arabia; against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border | 21/10/2026 | www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia (opens in a new tab) |
| Canada | "Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)" | 22/10/2026 | travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia (opens in a new tab) |
| USA | Level 3, "Reconsider Travel" (reported; we could not open the official page) | 12/10/2026 | travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/saudi-arabia.html (opens in a new tab) |
| Pakistan | We found no current October 2026 advice. Check the Foreign Office and the embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah | not confirmed | mofa.gov.pk (opens in a new tab) |
The advice covers different regions in different words. Read the whole page for your country, not only the headline.
Travel insurance
Policies differ, so read yours. In general:
- Many policies do not cover a trip you take against your government's advice. The FCDO says your insurance could be invalidated in that case.
- Many policies exclude losses caused by war or by events that were already happening when you bought the policy.
- Some policies cover a cancelled flight or a delay, and some do not. Some pay only if the airline cancels, not if you choose to stay home.
- Cancel-for-any-reason cover is sold by some insurers and costs more.
Call your insurer before you travel, say where you are going and why, and ask in writing whether you are covered. Keep their reply.
Register with your government
- USA: enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov. It is free, and you can add a trip to your account.
- Canada: sign up with Registration of Canadians Abroad on travel.gc.ca. It is free, and the government can contact you about an emergency at your destination.
- UK: we did not find a registration scheme equivalent to STEP. Follow the FCDO travel advice page for Saudi Arabia and check it for any option to receive updates.
- Pakistan: the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate general in Jeddah have set up helplines in earlier events, according to press reports from March 2026. Check the current numbers on the mission websites (for example parepjeddah.org) before you travel. We have not copied numbers here because we could not verify them today.
If your flight is cancelled
- Ask the airline for the reason in writing and for the options it offers: another date, another airport or a refund.
- Do not pay a second airline until you know what the first will do.
- If a hotel or transport is already booked, tell your agent early. Hotels and transport providers often have their own change rules.
- Keep every receipt for costs you pay yourself, such as food or a night's stay, in case your insurer or airline reimburses them.
- Contact your embassy if you are stranded abroad.
Keep copies of your documents
Save these on your phone and email them to yourself, and carry a printed set:
- Your Nusuk permit (Tasreeh) and Nusuk package. See our Nusuk app guide.
- Your passport page and your visa.
- Hotel confirmations in Makkah and Madinah.
- Your flight tickets and the airline's contact number.
- Your insurance policy number and its emergency phone number.
- The visa and vaccination rules for your trip. See the one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa the Nusuk food voucher and, if you fly from Pakistan, the NIMS NADRA vaccination certificate.
How Maqam e Haram helps
We have a team on the ground in Makkah and Madinah. You can message us on WhatsApp or call +92 309 9022120, and we give quotes in writing so you can see what is included before you decide. We do not issue visas and cannot promise one; the Saudi authorities decide.
We will tell you what the sources above say on the day you ask, and we will not tell you that a trip is safe or unsafe. To plan the length of a trip, see how long does Umrah take. If you are choosing a season, see the best time for Umrah.
Questions and answers
Is Umrah safe now?
We cannot say. Governments rate the risk differently: the UK advises against all but essential travel, and Canada says avoid non-essential travel. Saudi Arabia is large, and the advice names different areas. Read your government's page and decide with your family.
Can I still travel for Umrah?
The ministry's 1448 calendar still shows the last entry as 23/03/2027, and we found no announcement that the season was stopped. Flights are where the disruption sits. Riyadh's airport resumed on 25/10/2026 after two weeks, and reports differ on how many flights ran. Confirm your own flight and airport before you leave.
Is my Umrah visa still valid?
We found no announcement that Umrah visas were cancelled. A visa has to be used within 30 days of issue, according to press reports of the ministry's rule, so a delay can matter. Check Nusuk and ask the agent who arranged your visa. See the one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa guide for the other visa rules.
What if my flight is cancelled?
Ask the airline for your options in writing, tell your agent and your hotels, and keep receipts. Your rights depend on the airline, the route and your ticket.
Does travel insurance cover this?
It depends on the policy. Many exclude war and travel against government advice. Ask your insurer in writing before you buy or before you go.
Is it permitted to travel when there is danger?
That is a question for a scholar. We do not give rulings. Ask a scholar you trust.
Where can I get news I can rely on?
Use the government pages in the table above, your airline, GACA (the Saudi civil aviation authority) and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and treat unverified messages forwarded on social media with care.
Related pages
Sources
The official pages and references we used, with the date we checked them.
- All checked 27/10/2026, except the Ministry news page (checked 26/10/2026).
- UK FCDO, Saudi Arabia travel advice (updated 21/10/2026): www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Canada, Saudi Arabia travel advice (updated 22/10/2026): travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Canada, Registration of Canadians Abroad: travel.gc.ca/travelling/registration (opens in a new tab)
- US Department of State, Saudi Arabia travel advisory (page blocked our fetch; Level 3 and date from search summaries of the page): travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/saudi-arabia.html (opens in a new tab)
- US Department of State, STEP: step.state.gov (opens in a new tab)
- AFP via The Daily Star, Riyadh airport due to reopen (25/10/2026): thedailystar.net/news/world/news/explosions-heard-saudi-capital-airport-due-reopen-4306836 (opens in a new tab)
- Bloomberg, Riyadh airport reopens (25/10/2026): www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-25/riyadh-airport-resumes-flights-as-saudis-fight-houthi-missiles (opens in a new tab)
- Khaleej Times, Riyadh airport attack explained (11/10/2026, updated 14/10/2026): www.khaleejtimes.com/world/gulf/deadly-oct-10-riyadh-airport-attack-explained-killed-injured (opens in a new tab)
- Gulf News, Umrah pilgrims among casualties of the Riyadh airport attack: gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/umrah-pilgrims-among-casualties-in-houthi-attack-on-riyadh-airport-that-killed-12-1.500706562 (opens in a new tab)
- ARY News, Pakistan cancels 42 flights (09/10/2026): arynews.tv/pakistan-cancels-42-flights-amid-houthi-attacks-on-saudi-arabia (opens in a new tab)
- Associated Press, Saudi capital's airport opens to limited traffic (21/10/2026): www.clickondetroit.com/news/world/2026/10/21/saudi-capitals-airport-opens-to-limited-traffic-and-other-mideast-news/ (opens in a new tab)
- Khaleej Times, UAE Umrah operators report a drop in new bookings (16/10/2026): www.khaleejtimes.com/houthi-attacks-in-saudi-arabia-uae-umrah-operators-report-50-drop-in-new-bookings (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH: haj.gov.sa/en/Media-Center/Ministry-News/2026/Ministry-of-Hajj-and-Umrah-Announces-the-Umrah-Season-Calendar-for-1448-AH (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, news page (no items shown on 26/10/2026): haj.gov.sa/en/Media-Center/Ministry-News (opens in a new tab)