Houthi Missiles Disrupt Saudi Flights Ahead of Investment Summit
Houthi missile attacks on Saudi airports have killed three people, destroyed a passenger aircraft, and disrupted international flights, threatening the kingdom's tourism and investment plans as companies consider evacuating employees.
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Yemen's Houthi movement is intensifying missile attacks on Saudi Arabia's airports in an effort to disrupt the kingdom's international air connections.
Attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and several southern cities have forced flight cancellations, unsettled international businesses, and raised concerns over the safety of civilian aviation.
The escalation comes ahead of Saudi Arabia's peak business travel season, threatening Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to attract foreign investment and expand the tourism industry.
Deadly Riyadh Airport Strike Disrupts International Flights
A Houthi attack on Riyadh's main international airport on Thursday killed three people, including a pilot employed by national carrier Saudia, and destroyed a passenger aircraft.
Several airlines have suspended services to the Saudi capital, while Singapore Airlines has postponed introducing its Riyadh route until March.
The attack followed repeated strikes on the airport earlier in the week, leaving some international business travelers stranded in the kingdom.
Companies have since instructed some employees to avoid the airport while they assess alternative routes out of the country.
Houthis Declare Saudi Airspace a Military Target
The Houthi movement issued an explicit warning early Friday that its missile campaign would continue to threaten Saudi aviation.
"Saudi Arabian airspace constitutes a theater of operations for our missile forces," the group said.
The Houthis added that humanitarian flights serving Riyadh could proceed only with prior authorization.
Security consultancy Dragonfly said Thursday's strike was at least the fifth attack on a Saudi airport since the beginning of October.
The firm assessed that Saudi air defenses were struggling to stop the missiles and that further attacks were likely.
The attacks have also renewed concerns over Saudi Arabia's stockpiles of missile interceptors.
Saudi officials are increasingly worried about the availability of air defense munitions needed to protect critical infrastructure, according to people familiar with the matter.
Saudi Investment Summit Faces Uncertainty
Continued missile attacks and flight disruptions could affect Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative, a major international business conference scheduled for late October in Riyadh.
Thousands of executives and investors are expected to attend, and authorities have no plans to cancel the event.
However, officials fear the attacks could undermine investor confidence and hurt the kingdom’s economic recovery.
The uncertainty also threatens Saudi Arabia’s growing tourism sector, which contributed around $178 billion to GDP in 2025 and remains central to its economic diversification plans.
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