Is Riyadh Airport Closed Today? Flights Suspended and Schools Online After Attack

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport remained closed on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after an attack the previous day. The flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the closure had been extended until at least 9 p.m. Riyadh time. Flights have been cancelled or diverted, while schools in the capital have moved to online learning for the week. Travelers should not treat 9 p.m. as a confirmed reopening time: they need to check their own flight with their airline before setting out.

Is Riyadh airport open for flights today?

No. Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport, also known by the airport code RUH, after the Saturday, October 10, attack. It said authorities were assessing damage and checking the safety of airport facilities. Reports on Sunday said the closure would remain in place until at least 9 p.m. local time, but no confirmed time for normal operations to resume had been announced.

The distinction matters for anyone holding a ticket: a scheduled flight is not proof that it will operate. Flights into or out of Riyadh may be cancelled, delayed or diverted, and a connection through RUH may be affected even if the traveler’s first flight leaves as planned. The airport has advised passengers to confirm their status directly with their airline before heading there.

What should travelers do if they have a Riyadh flight?

Check the airline’s app, website or customer service channel for the status of the specific flight and booking. If the trip connects through Riyadh, check every leg and ask the airline about rebooking if a connection has been disrupted. Passengers whose flights have been diverted should follow their airline’s instructions about onward travel and baggage rather than assume they can reach or depart from the Riyadh airport.

Travelers should also check current airport and government travel notices before making a new journey. The U.S. State Department advises Americans to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia because of security risks; that countrywide advisory is not a declaration that every Saudi airport is closed. Conditions and airline schedules can change separately.

Are Riyadh schools online today?

Yes. Saudi authorities said on Sunday that schools in Riyadh would teach online until the end of the week. Families should look for instructions from their school on class times, attendance and the platform their children should use, rather than assume the usual in-person timetable applies online. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education provides the Madrasati learning platform, though families should follow their own school’s directions for accessing lessons.

The school change concerns Riyadh. It should not be read as an announcement that all schools across Saudi Arabia have switched to remote learning or that classes have been cancelled altogether.

What changed after the attack?

Saturday’s strike brought a renewed airport shutdown after earlier attacks had already disrupted flights in the Saudi capital. Saudi civil aviation authorities said 12 people were killed and 309 injured in the October 10 attack. The Saudi-led coalition blamed Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who had acknowledged targeting Saudi airports earlier in the week but had not immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s strike. The group has since renewed threats against airports in the kingdom.

For residents and visitors, the immediate changes are the suspended Riyadh airport operations and a week of remote schooling in the capital. Neither the reported 9 p.m. closure extension nor a flight still appearing on a schedule guarantees that the airport or an individual service will be available later Sunday. Airline confirmations and new official notices remain the practical checks before travel.