Middle East latest: Empty skies over Riyadh as airport to stay closed until Saturday

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has extended its suspension of flights to and from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport until November 29 due to ongoing security concerns. PAL issued this announcement on October 12 via its Facebook travel advisory, indicating that flights PR654 and PR655 would remain suspended until the end of the month. The airline emphasized that it will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as needed.

The suspension follows a series of attacks at King Khalid International Airport, which resulted in four Filipinos being injured, three of whom are currently in intensive care. The fourth Filipino is expected to be discharged from the hospital. All four injured Filipinos are receiving treatment at various hospitals in Riyadh. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration in Riyadh are closely monitoring the health of the injured Filipinos and providing necessary assistance.

The DMW also encouraged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia to steer clear of areas that might be targeted in future attacks, such as military installations and oil refineries, and advised them to avoid crowded areas at airports.

For Filipinos returning to the Philippines, it is advised to contact their airlines before proceeding to the airport or to check the email addresses provided during the booking process for any updates. Saudi Arabia remains a significant destination for Filipino migrant workers, accounting for 24.1% of Filipinos working abroad from April to September 2025, the highest proportion among all destination countries, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.