Riyadh missile intercepted, Dubai flights cut to 29 October

Saudi air defences intercepted a missile aimed at Riyadh on 24 October, and flydubai has cancelled its Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights to 29 October. The Saudi-led coalition said the ballistic missile was destroyed early on Saturday 24 October and a drone was intercepted over the Eastern Province, with no casualties or damage reported; Civil Defence alerts for Riyadh, Najran and Wadi Al Dawasir were lifted shortly afterwards. Arab News reported that later in the day Civil Defence also issued and then lifted warnings for Jeddah, Yanbu, Taif and Makkah, after two missiles aimed at Taif and Yanbu were intercepted.

Pilgrims whose itinerary connects through the UAE should note the airlines' latest dates: flydubai's Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights are cancelled up to and including 29 October while its Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim and Tabuk services are listed as operating; Emirates' Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam flights are suspended through 25 October according to The National, with its Dubai to Madinah departures listed as scheduled on 24 October; and Etihad's Abu Dhabi flights to Riyadh and Dammam and its EY601 to EY604 Jeddah services are cancelled through 5 November. PIA's Riyadh flights remain suspended with no date to resume, as The National's survey of airlines on 23 October confirmed, and other flights from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia operate according to the Pakistan Airports Authority's last statement. 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.