South African Embassy Saudi Arabia

11/10/2026

UPDATE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS: SAUDI ARABIA AND YEMEN [11 October 2026]

This update is issued by the South African Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah. The Embassy is also accredited to the Republic of Yemen, the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

We are monitoring developments closely, in coordination with DIRCO and the Saudi authorities.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED

Attacks from Yemen now reach well beyond the southern border areas. Airports have become targets. On 10 October a missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported 12 people killed and 309 injured, of several nationalities. It temporarily suspended operations at the airport. Attacks on the same airport on 7 and 8 October killed four people. On 6 October an attack on Abha airport killed two. Further missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh and the Eastern Region have been intercepted.

We have received no reports of South Africans among the casualties. If you or someone you know has been affected, please contact us on the numbers below.

As of 13:30 on 11 October, operations at King Khalid International Airport remain suspended. GACA suspended them on 10 October and has not yet announced that they have resumed.

Daily life continues in most of the Kingdom. Flights can still be suspended or diverted at short notice, and not every attack is preceded by a public alert.
AIRPORTS AND FLIGHTS

Do not go to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh unless you hold a confirmed booking and your airline has told you that your flight is operating. Check GACA () and your airline before you leave for the airport.
Before travelling to any airport in the Kingdom, including Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Jazan and Najran, confirm with your airline that your flight is operating. Several foreign airlines have suspended or reduced flights to Riyadh.
Keep your time at the airport short. Follow the instructions of airport staff and security personnel. If an alert sounds, keep away from glass frontages.

IF YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN SAUDI ARABIA (JAZAN, NAJRAN, ASIR, ABHA, KHAMIS MUSHAIT)

Avoid all travel within 10km of the Yemen border and reconsider any travel within 80km of it that is not essential.
Flights at Abha, Jazan and Najran may be restricted or suspended. Confirm with your airline before travelling.

IF YOU ARE IN YEMEN

South Africans are advised against all travel to Yemen. If you are in Yemen, consider leaving by commercial means while options remain available. Aden airport was targeted on 7 October, so confirm any flight with your airline first.

South Africa has no resident mission in Yemen. Our ability to provide consular assistance inside Yemen is very limited. Do not rely on the government to help you leave.

Register on the DIRCO Travel Smart App now and keep your location and contact details up to date.
Keep your passport, residence documents and any visa with you, with copies stored separately.
Keep enough cash, fuel, food, water and medication for several days.
Avoid military sites, armed checkpoints, gatherings and areas near the fighting. Do not travel between cities unless necessary.
Do not travel to any border crossing without first confirming that it is open and that you hold the right entry documents.

EVERYONE IN THE KINGDOM

Keep away from military installations and from oil, gas and other energy facilities.
Follow instructions from the Saudi Civil Defence and local authorities without delay. If an alert sounds, go indoors, stay away from windows and stay inside until the all clear. If you are driving, pull over safely away from bridges and overpasses. Do not approach or touch debris.
Do not film, photograph or share images of interceptions, impact sites or debris. The Saudi Ministry of Interior has warned that doing so exposes people to legal liability.
Rely on official sources: the Saudi Civil Defence, GACA, local authorities, your airline and the South African Missions. Please do not share unverified reports or videos.
Keep your documents, phone charger, cash and essential medication ready.
Register on the DIRCO Travel Smart App if you have not done so.

Travel Smart App: iPhone/iPad https://apps.apple.com/us/app/travel-smart/id6446180597 ; Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xiquel.dirco&hl=en_US ; Web https://travelsmart.dirco.gov.za/welcome.

LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBERS (SAUDI ARABIA): Unified emergency 911 (Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Eastern Province); Civil Defence 998; Police 999; Ambulance 997 (other regions).

EMERGENCY CONTACTS: South African Embassy, Riyadh (also for nationals in Yemen, Oman and Bahrain), [email protected] / [email protected], emergency +966 55 812 2215. South African Consulate General, Jeddah, [email protected], emergency +966 56 244 5376 / +966 56 244 5235. DIRCO Helpline (Pretoria) +27 12 351 1000. DIRCO Consular Incident Command Centre [email protected].

14/09/2026

UPDATE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS: YEMEN AND SOUTHERN SAUDI ARABIA [14 September 2026]

This update is issued by the South African Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah. The Embassy is also accredited to the Republic of Yemen, the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

We are monitoring developments in Yemen and along the Saudi Arabia and Yemen border closely, in coordination with DIRCO and the relevant authorities.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED

Fighting inside Yemen has intensified since late August. Missiles and drones launched from Yemen have struck locations in the southern Saudi regions of Jazan, Najran and Asir, including Abha and Khamis Mushait, causing injuries and damage.

On 14 September 2026 the Saudi Civil Defence lifted its warnings of potential danger for Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. The situation remains fluid and further incidents cannot be ruled out.

Riyadh, Jeddah, the Eastern Province and the rest of the Kingdom are operating normally. Commercial flights from Riyadh and Jeddah continue to operate.

IF YOU ARE IN YEMEN

South Africans are advised against all travel to Yemen. If you are in Yemen, consider leaving by commercial means while options remain available.

South Africa has no resident mission in Yemen. Our ability to provide consular assistance inside Yemen is very limited, and you should not rely on government-assisted departure.

- Register on the DIRCO Travel Smart App now and keep your location and contact details up to date.
- Keep your passport, residence documents and any visa with you, with copies stored separately.
- Keep enough cash, fuel, food, water and medication for several days.
- Avoid military sites, armed checkpoints, gatherings and front-line areas. Do not travel between cities unless necessary.
- The Al-Wadiah land crossing into Saudi Arabia has been reported closed. Do not travel to any border crossing without first confirming it is open and that you hold the right entry documents.

IF YOU ARE IN SOUTHERN SAUDI ARABIA (JAZAN, NAJRAN, ASIR, ABHA, KHAMIS MUSHAIT)

- Avoid all travel within 10km of the Yemen border and reconsider any non-essential travel within 80km of it.
- Stay away from military installations, energy and industrial facilities and airports unless you are travelling.
- Follow instructions from the Saudi Civil Defence and local authorities without delay. If an alert sounds, go indoors, stay away from windows and remain inside until the all clear. If you are driving, pull over safely away from bridges and overpasses.
- Flights at Abha, Jazan and Najran airports have been disrupted in recent days. Confirm your flight directly with your airline before going to the airport.
- Keep your documents, phone charger, cash and essential medication ready.

EVERYONE

- Register on the DIRCO Travel Smart App if you have not done so.
- Rely on official sources: the Saudi Civil Defence, local authorities, your airline and designated Missions. Please do not share unverified reports or videos.
- South Africans are advised against non-essential travel to Yemen and to the Saudi border areas listed above.

Travel Smart App:
- iPhone/iPad: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/travel-smart/id6446180597
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xiquel.dirco&hl=en_US
- Web: https://travelsmart.dirco.gov.za/welcome

LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBERS (SAUDI ARABIA)
- Unified emergency: 911 (Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Eastern Province)
- Civil Defence: 998; Police: 999; Ambulance: 997 (other regions)

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

South African Embassy, Riyadh (also for nationals in Yemen, Oman and Bahrain)
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Emergency Tel: +966 55 812 2215

South African Consulate General, Jeddah
Email: [email protected]
Emergency Tel: +966 56 244 5376 / +966 56 244 5235

DIRCO Helpline (Pretoria): +27 12 351 1000
DIRCO Consular Incident Command Centre: [email protected]

03/04/2026

TRAVEL ADVISORY - REGIONAL SECURITY UPDATE

South African Embassy, Riyadh | Consulate General, Jeddah

The South African Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are closely monitoring regional developments. South African citizens in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the Sultanate of Oman are advised to exercise heightened caution.

Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption across the Gulf and wider Middle East.

As a precautionary measure, citizens are encouraged to:

* Avoid the vicinity of security or military installations, as well as entities with international affiliations that may be subject to increased risk.
* Monitor local and international media for the latest developments
* Remain vigilant and strictly adhere to all guidance and instructions issued by local authorities.

20/03/2026

03/03/2026

03/03/2026

South African citizens in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen, please note the urgent advisory in light of regional developments.

13/02/2026

SANDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General F.M. Ramantswana represented the SANDF at the World Defence Show that was held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 8 to 12 February 2026. The show drew participants from 191 countries, including companies from the South African Defence Industry.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains a strategic partner to South Africa and this is demonstrated by the active participation of South African Defence Industry in the Kingdom. Noticeable South African companies included Milkor, Reunert, and CSIR amongst others that have joint ventures with local Saudi companies.

Milkor and Reunert demonstrated that the South African Defence Industry remains a significant player not only in the African Continent but also globally, displaying bespoke capabilities with niche solutions that stimulated great interest at the World Defence Show. Representatives from ARMSCOR and DENEL were also in attendance.

This visit once again confirmed that South Africa remains a key player in the Defence Sector and will continue to aspire to grow from strength to strength, thereby cementing our market share in this space.

The SANDF Chief of Staff also paid a courtesy call on the South African Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E Mogobo David Magabe, where discussions took place on the progress being made to advance bilateral relations between the two countries.

12/02/2026

Ambassador Magabe received a courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Ulukbek Maripov, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Saudi Arabia, who is also accredited to South Africa. The meeting centered on cooperation between the two countries in multilateral fora.

04/02/2026

The 5th Saudi Media Forum took place in Riyadh from February 2-4, 2026. Ambassador Magabe joined a panel discussion on "Diplomacy of Influence, Media and Image-Making," exploring media's impact on perception and state power. The panel featured Ambassadors of Spain, India, and Djibouti.

22/01/2026

To all South African Citizens residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen, please take note of the requirements for civic services.