Drones downed over Riyadh and Makkah, PIA still suspended

Two drones were intercepted over the Riyadh region on 2 November and one over the Makkah region on 3 November, and PIA's Riyadh flights remain suspended with no date. The coalition spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, announced the Riyadh interceptions in a post on X on Monday 2 November without naming who launched the drones, AFP reports via Gulf News, and announced on Tuesday 3 November that a drone had been intercepted and destroyed in the Makkah region, according to Arab News Pakistan and Asharq Al-Awsat; none of these reports mentions casualties or damage. The Houthis said on 2 November that they had targeted Dammam airport with two drones, a claim Saudi authorities have not confirmed, and Gulf News reports that the group denied attacking Saudi territory on 3 November.

Gulf News's list for Tuesday 3 November again shows PIA's Riyadh services temporarily suspended with no resumption date, and the Pakistan Airports Authority's last statement said PIA's other Saudi services continue. Saudia and flyadeal operate their Riyadh services through Al Qassim with coach transfers from Riyadh, and Riyadh Air has some Riyadh flights cancelled to 5 November. Connections through the UAE remain limited: Emirates' EK801 to Jeddah and the return EK802 were cancelled for the fifth day running while EK803 to EK806 were scheduled, its Riyadh and Dammam flights were cancelled and its Madinah flights operated; flydubai's Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim, Ha'il, Taif and Tabuk flights were listed as scheduled, estimated or arrived, with no status shown for Riyadh or Abha; Etihad's Riyadh, Dammam and EY601 to EY604 Jeddah services are cancelled through 5 November; and Air Arabia's Sharjah flights to Riyadh, Abha and Jizan were cancelled.

Gulf News still gives 31 October as the end date for Oman Air's Riyadh and SalamAir's Riyadh and Dammam cancellations with no later date announced, so pilgrims connecting through Muscat should confirm directly with the airline. 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, and follow Civil Defence alerts while in the Kingdom.