Saudi Arabia activates emergency response at airports for stranded Gulf travelers

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have activated emergency response plans at the Kingdom’s airports to receive stranded passengers of various nationalities following air traffic disruptions and the closure of some regional airspaces amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, Al Arabiya reported.

Saudi authorities have prepared accommodation facilities and streamlined procedures to ensure the arrival and temporary accommodation of travelers until their flights resume, the report said.

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A visit to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and several relevant agencies revealed a high level of coordination taking place between government bodies providing logistical services to passengers who were forced to reroute their flights to Saudi Arabia following disruptions in some neighboring countries, particularly in the Gulf, according to the report.

Yaqub al-Yaqub, a Kuwaiti student arriving from London, said he had to change his travel plans after Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace when it was targeted by a Iranian drone attack.

He told Al Arabiya that he chose to fly to Riyadh and continue his journey by land.

“I had booked my flight from London to spend the Eid holiday with my family, but with the escalation of events and the suspension of flights, I was surprised to find that I couldn’t arrive directly. So, I decided to come to Riyadh and continue my journey by land,” he said.

“I didn’t feel truly stranded. Arriving in Riyadh was reassuring compared to being stuck at another airport or waiting in a distant city,” he added.

A similar story was shared by another Arab traveler who was flying from the United States to Dubai and had to change his travel plans after some flights were suspended.

He said his options were limited to several destinations in the region.

“I chose Riyadh because it was the closest and easiest to reach. As soon as I arrived, I found organized procedures and services that helped me arrange accommodation until the availability of future flights became clear,” he said.

According to Al Arabiya, Saudi authorities at air and land border crossings have strengthened procedures to facilitate the entry of stranded travelers, providing guidance and necessary services.

Authorities are also coordinating with hospitality facilities and hotels to accommodate those who must remain temporarily in the Kingdom.

Relevant authorities are monitoring the situation of passengers arriving from various destinations worldwide and providing logistical support until air traffic stabilizes and flights return to normal schedules.

Field data indicated that teams at airports in Saudi Arabia have increased readiness levels in recent hours, with ongoing coordination between security and service agencies to ensure smooth procedures and provide necessary support to passengers who have changed their travel destinations due to regional developments, according to Al Arabiya.

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