News Desk: The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a fresh advisory for Indian nationals amid escalating tensions involving the Gulf kingdom and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The embassy has advised Indians to remain indoors, follow local authorities’ instructions and avoid sharing videos or news related to the ongoing situation.
In its advisory issued on Tuesday, the embassy said Indian nationals facing emergencies and wishing to leave Saudi Arabia could consider travelling through neighbouring Gulf countries, particularly Qatar and Bahrain. However, travel through other countries would be subject to obtaining the necessary visas.
The advisory comes after four Indian airlines—Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa Air—temporarily cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until October 17. The embassy has urged passengers to remain in regular contact with their respective airlines and verify flight updates before making travel arrangements.
Despite the cancellations, some flight services continue to operate. According to the embassy, Saudi airline Saudia continues to run scheduled flights from Dammam, Jeddah and Medina. Flynas is also operating its scheduled Dammam-Lucknow service.
The embassy further clarified that its operations in Riyadh, along with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah and their outsourced passport and attestation services through VFS, were functioning normally.
Another important announcement concerns Indian nationals who entered Saudi Arabia on tourist, Umrah or business visas but were unable to leave because of the ongoing tensions. According to the advisory, those who overstayed because of the situation would be permitted to exit the kingdom without paying fines. However, the embassy urged individuals whose visas had expired to leave as soon as flights became available.
The latest advisory follows reports of heightened security concerns in Riyadh. Air raid sirens sounded and explosions were heard in the Saudi capital on Monday. Yemen’s Houthi group also claimed to have fired a ballistic missile towards King Khalid International Airport.
The developments have raised concerns about travel disruptions and the safety of Indian nationals living and working in Saudi Arabia.
The embassy has reiterated its appeal for Indians to exercise caution, avoid circulating unverified information and follow official instructions. Travellers planning to leave the country have been advised to check the latest flight schedules and visa requirements before proceeding through neighbouring countries.
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