Most of the Middle East's major international airports remained open and handling commercial traffic on Friday, October 30, 2026, even as persistent security concerns in Saudi Arabia continued to restrict operations at the kingdom's primary gateway and prompt widespread airline suspensions.

Gulf hubs including Dubai International, Hamad International in Doha, and Zayed International in Abu Dhabi operated normally or with only minor delays, according to airport notices, airline schedules, and flight-tracking data. Passengers across the region were still advised to confirm flights directly with carriers, as schedules remained subject to change and European regulators continued to caution against overflight of parts of the Persian Gulf.

The situation reflected ongoing disruption tied to attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Saudi facilities earlier in the month, combined with broader regional tensions that have led carriers to repeatedly adjust routes.

**Riyadh's Partial Operations**

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's second-busiest airport after Jeddah, was operating on a limited basis from Terminals 1 and 2. Saudi authorities had announced the partial reopening on October 25, designating Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international services operated primarily by national carriers. A Notice to Airmen still required prior permission from the General Authority of Civil Aviation for each arrival and departure, and normal unrestricted scheduling had not resumed.

Flight activity remained constrained. Data from Cirium showed that roughly 86 percent of scheduled Riyadh departures were cancelled or recorded as no-fly between October 8 and 25.........

© International Business Times