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Update: two more Saudi cities are now on the FCDO's 'avoid' list

Qurexa Editorial Team21 September 20266 min read 0 0
Update: two more Saudi cities are now on the FCDO's 'avoid' list

What happened

This is a follow-up to our article of 17 September on airspace closures in Saudi Arabia. The advice has now changed again, and in a more serious way. On the evening of 20 September 2026, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its travel advice for Saudi Arabia. The change extends its advice against all but essential travel to include two named cities: Abha and Khamis Mushait, both in Aseer province in the south of the country. The rest of the advice stands. The FCDO continues to advise against all travel within 10km of the border with Yemen, and against all but essential travel to areas between 10km and 80km from that border. What is new is that the warning now attaches to two specific cities by name, rather than only to a band of territory measured from a border. The reason given is the security situation. Since mid-July, the FCDO says, Houthi forces have fired missiles and drones at cities, airports, and military and energy sites across Saudi Arabia — including Abha, Jizan, Najran, Riyadh, Jeddah and Yanbu — as well as at shipping in the Red Sea.

Why this matters

The phrase 'advise against all but essential travel' is not a gentle suggestion. It is one step below the strongest warning the FCDO issues, and it has consequences that catch people out. The biggest one is insurance. Most UK travel insurance policies will not cover you for travel to an area the FCDO advises against visiting. That can mean no cover for medical treatment, for cancellation, or for getting you home. If you have a trip booked to Abha or Khamis Mushait, this is the thing to check today rather than at the airport — and check with your insurer directly rather than assuming. The second consequence is practical. Abha has an airport, and Khamis Mushait sits right beside it. This is a part of Saudi Arabia that people travel to for work in energy and construction, and for family visits. The FCDO also warns to expect possible flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures, and advises travellers to monitor local and international media, because airports and airspace can close at short notice. That last phrase — at short notice — is the one to take seriously. It means a route that is operating when you book may not be operating when you fly.

What the evidence actually says

It is worth being clear about what the FCDO has and has not said, because travel warnings are often reported more dramatically than they are written. The FCDO has not advised against travel to Saudi Arabia as a whole. Riyadh, Jeddah and the rest of the country are not covered by this warning, even though the advice notes that Riyadh and Jeddah have been among the places targeted since mid-July. The extension is specific to two cities in one southern province, plus the existing border zones. The distinction between the two levels also matters. 'Advise against all travel' is the stronger warning and applies within 10km of the Yemen border. 'All but essential travel' — which now covers Abha and Khamis Mushait — leaves the judgement of what counts as essential to you. A holiday is not essential. Work that cannot be done any other way might be. What has genuinely changed since our earlier article is the scope. Before, the concern reported was disruption: airspace closing, flights cancelled. Now the FCDO is saying, for two named cities, that it would rather you did not go at all unless you have to. That is a change in kind, not just in detail. The situation is also live. This advice was updated twice within a few days. Anything written about it, including this article, can be overtaken.

Practical advice

Read the FCDO page itself, not a summary. It is free, it is the source everything else is based on, and it is the document your insurer will refer to. Sign up for email alerts on the Saudi Arabia page so changes reach you. Ring your insurer if you have a trip booked. Ask specifically whether you are covered for travel to Abha or Khamis Mushait given the FCDO advice of 20 September. Get the answer in writing. Talk to your airline or tour operator about options. When FCDO advice changes after you book, operators will sometimes offer changes or refunds. Ask early; the flexibility usually shrinks as the date approaches. If you decide your travel is essential, tell someone at home your plans and keep them updated. Keep your phone charged and keep a small amount of cash on you. Build slack into connections. With airspace closing at short notice, a tight connection is a bad idea. Avoid booking separate tickets that leave you stranded if the first leg fails. Take enough regular medicine for longer than your trip. If you take prescription medicines, carry extra days' worth in your hand luggage along with a copy of your prescription. Delays of several days are a realistic possibility where airspace can close without warning, and running out of a daily medicine abroad is a genuinely difficult problem to solve.

What to know

The FCDO updated its Saudi Arabia travel advice on 20 September 2026, extending its advice against all but essential travel to the cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait in Aseer province. Advice against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border, and against all but essential travel between 10km and 80km from it, remains in place. The reason is missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities, airports and energy sites since mid-July. Expect possible flight cancellations and airspace closures at short notice. If you have a trip booked to either city, the urgent job is your insurance. Most policies do not cover travel against FCDO advice. Check with your insurer, and check the FCDO page itself rather than any summary, because this advice has already changed twice in a week. Sources: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (GOV.UK), 'Saudi Arabia travel advice', updated 20 September 2026, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/saudi-arabia; FCDO travel advice update feed, 20 September 2026, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.atom; GOV.UK, 'Foreign travel insurance', https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foreign-travel-insurance This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional, or from your insurer.

#Saudi Arabia#FCDO#travel advice#travel insurance#flights#safety

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