Eastern Province missile intercepted before Jeddah restart

A Houthi missile aimed at the Eastern Province was intercepted early on 29 October, a day before Emirates' listed return to Jeddah. UAE airlines' Saudi dates are unchanged. The Saudi-led coalition's spokesman, Turki Al-Maliki, said early on Thursday 29 October that air defences had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards the Eastern Province; Civil Defence had issued an early warning for the province and then announced that the danger had passed in the Eastern Province and Najran, and no casualties or damage were reported, according to Anadolu Agency and the AFP report carried by Kuwait Times.

It follows three missiles aimed at the Eastern Province intercepted on 27 October, two aimed at Riyadh that evening whose debris damaged a building and a vehicle, and one aimed at Taif on 28 October; the Houthis said earlier in the week that they had targeted the Ras Tanura refinery, and the Saudi statements reported only the interceptions. The talks in Tehran between Saudi, Pakistani, Turkish and Iranian officials ended without an announced agreement, with the four agreeing to keep talking, and the UAE's diplomatic adviser, Anwar Gargash, said on 28 October that the UAE remains committed to dialogue and called for restraint, according to Gulf News. For 29 October, Gulf News lists every Emirates flight between Dubai and Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam as cancelled while its Madinah services operate, with the airline's Jeddah flights still listed to resume on 30 October and Riyadh and Dammam on 8 November; flydubai lists its Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights from 30 October, with its Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim, Ha'il, Tabuk and Taif flights operating on 29 October and no status shown for Riyadh, Dammam and several smaller routes, which Gulf News notes does not by itself confirm a cancellation; Etihad's Abu Dhabi flights to Riyadh and Dammam and its EY601 to EY604 Jeddah services remain cancelled through 5 November, with rebooking offered; and Air Arabia's Sharjah flights to Dammam and Abha are cancelled, with its Riyadh flights listed without a status.

Eight flynas departures from Dubai to Riyadh and Gassim were cancelled. Among other airlines, Gulf News lists Gulf Air as having resumed Riyadh, Saudia and flyadeal routing their Riyadh passengers through Al Qassim with a coach transfer, Riyadh Air with some flights cancelled to 5 November, Qatar Airways' Riyadh and Dammam flights suspended, Oman Air's and SalamAir's Riyadh flights cancelled to 31 October, Air India's Riyadh and Dammam flights to 7 November, IndiGo's Saudi flights to 14 November and Lufthansa's Riyadh flights to 18 November. Residents travelling for Umrah should confirm their flight to Jeddah or Madinah before leaving for the airport, treat the 30 October dates as the airlines' current schedule rather than a guarantee, and follow Civil Defence alerts while in the Kingdom.