Dubai, October 15 : India has advised its nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain indoors in the event of an aerial attack and strictly follow instructions issued by local authorities amid heightened security concerns following reported drone and missile attacks in the Gulf region.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh urged Indian citizens to exercise caution and avoid sharing videos or news related to the ongoing situation.
“In view of the current situation, all Indian nationals are advised to continue to follow local authorities’ instructions, stay indoors in case of aerial attack, and refrain from circulating videos or news related to ongoing events,” the embassy said in a post on X.
The mission also provided an update on Indian nationals injured in an attack at Riyadh airport on October 10. According to the embassy, two injured persons remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while another has been shifted to the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Four other Indian nationals are receiving treatment in a regular hospital ward, while one person has been discharged. An Indian national, Mohammed Yousef Ali, was killed in the incident, which also left several others injured, including Indian citizens.
India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia attended Ali’s funeral on October 12 and conveyed condolences to his family.
Meanwhile, flight operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remained suspended, according to the embassy’s update. Flights from Dammam, Jeddah and Medina continued to operate, although some disruptions were reported.
Indian airlines, including Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and IndiGo, had suspended flights to and from Saudi Arabia until October 17. The embassy advised passengers to remain in contact with their respective airlines and verify the latest flight status before travelling.
Saudi carrier Saudia continued operating scheduled flights from Dammam, Jeddah and Medina, while Flynas was operating scheduled services on the Dammam–Lucknow route, the embassy said.
The Indian mission also informed citizens facing emergencies that they could consider departing through airports in neighbouring Gulf countries, particularly Qatar and Bahrain. However, travellers must obtain the necessary visas and comply with the entry requirements of the respective countries.
Addressing concerns over visa overstays caused by flight disruptions, the embassy said Saudi authorities would not impose fines on Indian nationals holding visit, tourist, Umrah or business visas who were unable to leave the Kingdom because flights were unavailable.
However, the mission advised individuals whose visas had expired to leave Saudi Arabia as soon as flights became available.
To assist Indian citizens during the situation, the embassy has established a 24-hour control room to provide emergency support and guidance.
Indian Embassy Emergency Contacts:
Toll-free number: 8002471234 (calls from within Saudi Arabia)
Telephone: +966-11-4884697
WhatsApp: +966-536216082 (messages only)
Email: [email protected]
The embassy has urged Indian nationals to remain alert, follow official safety instructions and rely on verified information for updates on security conditions and flight operations.
