{
  "id": 15445771,
  "title": "Saudi Arabia sends skyscraper employees home amid Houthi threats",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-arabia-sends-skyscraper-employees-home-amid-houthi-threats",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T16:34:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW English (Top Stories)",
    "slug": "dw-english-top-stories",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/saudi-arabia-sends-skyscraper-employees-home-amid-houthi-threats/a-79693225?maca=en-rss-en-top-1022-xml-mrss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Kingdom Center skyscraper in Riyadh has instructed its employees to work from home due to potential attacks by Houthi rebels from Yemen. The 99-story building, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest, has mandated remote work with no specified reason. This directive is effective immediately and remains in effect until further notice, according to the building's management, as reported by AFP. Notable tenants include financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and wealth management company Merrill Lynch. A shopping center adjacent to the tower will continue to operate as usual. Educational institutions within Riyadh and its surrounding areas have shifted to online classes for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, King Khalid International Airport, located near the building, remains closed due to a Houthi attack that claimed 13 lives. The Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthis continue to engage in escalating conflict, with the coalition recently reporting its first military fatalities since the escalation began. Two Saudi helicopter pilots lost their lives in an accident near the Yemen border, while the Houthis claimed to have shot down an Apache helicopter belonging to the Saudi forces. Overnight, two drones were intercepted near Riyadh, with a third being shot down over Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Province. Additionally, two ballistic missiles were intercepted in the country's southern region. The ongoing conflict between the two sides, which has been ongoing for over a decade, intensified after the Houthis seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month. The Houthis have attacked oil facilities, tankers, and Riyadh's international airport, while the coalition has retaliated with strikes on Houthi-controlled areas.",
  "summary": "Riyadh's Kingdom Center tower's management told the people employed there to work from home \"until further notice,\" without giving a reason. This comes as Houthi attacks escalate.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Saudi landmark closes offices after repeated Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-landmark-closes-offices-after-repeated-houthi-attacks",
        "published": "2026-10-18T10:04:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Saudi skyscraper closes offices as Houthi disruption spreads",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-skyscraper-closes-offices-as-houthi-disruption-spreads",
        "published": "2026-10-18T10:30:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Saudi Helicopter crash near Yemeni border kills 2 amid escalating Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-helicopter-crash-near-yemeni-border-kills-2-amid-escalating",
        "published": "2026-10-18T11:35:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Saudi chopper pilots killed as landmark tower closes offices amid Houthi fighting",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-chopper-pilots-killed-as-landmark-tower-closes-offices-amid",
        "published": "2026-10-18T13:21:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Saudi skyscraper closes offices as Houthi disruption spreads",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-skyscraper-closes-offices-as-houthi-disruption-spreads-15428539",
        "published": "2026-10-18T14:46:30.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Egypt says ready to provide Saudi Arabia with necessary support amid Houthi conflict",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/egypt-says-ready-to-provide-saudi-arabia-with-necessary-support-amid",
        "published": "2026-10-18T15:09:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia sends skyscraper employees home amid Houthi threats",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/saudi-arabia-sends-skyscraper-employees-home-amid-houthi-threats-15446941",
        "published": "2026-10-18T16:34:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Egypt’s top security body agrees to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/egypts-top-security-body-agrees-to-help-saudi-arabia-defend-itself",
        "published": "2026-10-18T18:17:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Egypt's top security body agrees to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/egypts-top-security-body-agrees-to-help-saudi-arabia-defend-itself-15474490",
        "published": "2026-10-18T18:59:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Egypt's top security body agrees to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against Houthi attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/egypts-top-security-body-agrees-to-help-saudi-arabia-defend-itself-15474622",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:22:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}