Houthi forces struck the control tower of Abha International Airport with a drone on 25 August 2026, triggering flight cancellations across the airport and prompting Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States to issue updated Saudi Arabia travel warnings.
What Happened
The Houthi military spokesman confirmed the strike via Al Masirah TV on 25 August. Gulf News reported the disruption as the “second day of flight cancellations” at Abha, suggesting some disruption had already begun the previous day. No immediate confirmation of casualties or structural damage to the terminal itself was given by Saudi authorities.
Abha International Airport serves the Asir Province highlands — a popular domestic and regional destination known for cooler temperatures and mountain scenery.
Which Airlines Have Cancelled Flights
Three carriers confirmed cancellations as of 25 August:
- Flydubai — Dubai–Abha route suspended; passengers should check flydubai.com for the latest schedule and rebooking options
- Saudia — Abha flights cancelled; contact Saudia directly or check saudia.com
- Air Cairo — Abha services suspended
Flights to Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Medina are unaffected.
Updated Travel Warnings
Canada, the UK, and the US all tightened their Saudi Arabia travel advisories following the attack. Travellers should check their government’s official advisory portal before departing:
- UK: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia
- Canada: travel.gc.ca
- US: travel.state.gov
If You Have a Flight to Abha
Contact your airline before travelling to the airport. Do not assume your flight is operating — check directly with Flydubai, Saudia, or Air Cairo. To search alternative routes into Saudi Arabia, Aviasales shows all available fares across carriers. Passengers with flexible tickets may be able to reroute through Jeddah or Riyadh and continue overland, though road distances from Jeddah to Abha are approximately 350 km.
For those planning a future visit, our Abha city guide covers the region’s main attractions, and things to do in Abha and Asir has practical planning information. For broader safety context across the country, see our Saudi Arabia safety guide.
We will update this article as the situation at Abha airport develops.