Following an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, 2026, that killed 12 people and injured 309, many UAE residents with family or work ties to Saudi Arabia are reassessing their travel plans.
Those killed included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. The attack triggered an immediate wave of flight cancellations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Etihad Airways cancelled eight flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on October 11 and 12, while Flydubai suspended all its Riyadh services until October 14. Meanwhile, the closure imposed on King Khalid International Airport after the attack was extended by another 24 hours, keeping it shut until 1am Gulf Standard Time.
The disruption is already reshaping everyday plans. A 47-year-old Sri Lankan professional working in Riyadh postponed his weekend trip to Dubai to see his family, citing concerns the disruption could affect his work commitments. A Riyadh-based freelancer said he is re-evaluating whether to attend the Sharjah International Book Fair and other events scheduled in Dubai this month.
The episode illustrates how quickly a security incident in one part of the region can ripple into travel decisions and cultural events elsewhere, with Dubai's own calendar of gatherings now factoring into the uncertainty gripping travellers across the Gulf.