FAA tells US airlines to exercise caution in Saudi Arabia flights, citing safety risks

Saudi Arabia is confronting its most challenging period during the ongoing war. Once a sanctuary for Gulf nations escaping the Iran conflict, the country's reputation is now tarnished. Western governments are cautioning against traveling to Riyadh, and the US requires officials to obtain special clearance to use the capital's airport.

Executives are reportedly departing for Doha and the UAE, and in Riyadh, residents are now experiencing explosions and fires, which have been rare since the war started on February 28. The situation is a stark contrast to Saudi Arabia's previous image of stability and business-as-usual.

Iran-backed Houthi fighters have intensified attacks in response to Saudi-led operations in Yemen, causing significant damage. A Saudi citizen was killed, a Saudia Airlines plane caught fire, and numerous flights have been canceled. Several offices, schools, and the Expo 2030 construction site near the airport were evacuated on Thursday.

Foreign governments have advised their citizens to remain vigilant, but the sudden threats from the sky pose a difficult dilemma. How can individuals protect themselves when danger arrives unexpectedly?

Saudi Arabia is currently hosting the World Petroleum Congress and the Future Investment Initiative, attracting CEOs from global energy and financial corporations. Although no events have been postponed or cancelled yet, security teams are closely evaluating the acceptable level of risk for these influential industry leaders. Some residents in Riyadh still cling to the belief that the country has endured worse situations, such as when Iraq launched Scud missiles during the first Gulf War in 1991.

However, those attacks primarily targeted military structures, unlike the current Houthi assaults, which have been the deadliest since the Yemen war resumed last month, according to The New York Times.