Drones downed over Riyadh and Madinah, PIA still suspended

Drones over Riyadh, Madinah and the Makkah region and a missile aimed at the south were intercepted on 30 October, and PIA's Riyadh flights stay suspended. The Saudi-led coalition's spokesman, Turki Al-Maliki, said on Friday 30 October that air defences had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards the southern region and drones over Madinah and Riyadh, after a cruise missile aimed at the west of the Kingdom and a drone in the Makkah region earlier in the day; fragments from the Riyadh interception caused no injuries and the site was being dealt with by the authorities, according to Arab News and Anadolu Agency, and Dawn carried the agency reports. Early on Saturday 31 October the coalition said it had destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province and another launched towards the south, and Civil Defence warnings for Najran and Jazan were lifted shortly afterwards, Arab News reported; the Reuters report carried by Business Recorder and Kuwait Times place the Eastern Province and southern interceptions on either side of midnight, and no casualties or damage were reported from them.

Gulf News reported a further coalition statement at 9.43am on Saturday that a hostile drone had been destroyed over the Riyadh region, with debris falling without injuries, and the spokesman did not say who launched it. The Houthis' military spokesman, Yahya Saree, denied any operation against Saudi territory on Friday and called the Madinah report a fabrication, according to Anadolu Agency and Reuters; the Saudi statements reported only the interceptions. For pilgrims, the position is unchanged: Gulf News's list of 31 October again shows PIA's Riyadh services suspended with no resumption date, the Pakistan Airports Authority's last statement said PIA's other Saudi services continue, Saudia routes its Riyadh passengers through Al Qassim with a coach transfer, flyadeal has moved all its Riyadh services to Al Qassim with coaches from Riyadh bus station, and Riyadh Air has some Riyadh flights cancelled to 5 November with rebooking flexibility for travel to 7 November.

Connections through the UAE: Emirates' listing for 31 October again shows its first Dubai to Jeddah rotation EK801 and EK802 cancelled while EK803 to EK806 are scheduled, every Riyadh and Dammam flight cancelled and its Madinah services operating; flydubai's Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights are cancelled to 5 November, with its arrivals from Riyadh and Dammam cancelled at Dubai on 31 October while its Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim, Ha'il and Taif flights operate; Etihad's Riyadh, Dammam and EY601 to EY604 Jeddah services are cancelled through 5 November; and Air Arabia's Sharjah flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha were cancelled on 31 October. Confirm your flight, your terminal at Jeddah and your onward transport to Makkah with the airline or your Umrah operator before leaving for the airport, treat Emirates' Jeddah schedule as subject to change, and follow Civil Defence alerts while in the Kingdom.