flydubai extends Saudi flight cancellations to 5 November
flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha in Saudi Arabia up to and including Thursday, 5 November, extending its suspension of services to the three cities for another week. The Dubai-based airline shared the update in a statement on Friday, 30 October, citing the continuing disruption across the region.
A flydubai spokesperson said the airline expected some disruption to its scheduled operations to Saudi Arabia, and advised customers to check their flight status regularly and keep their contact details up to date. It said it would keep monitoring the situation and update passengers through its official channels if schedules changed again.
Flights to six other Saudi cities are still running. flydubai said it continues to serve Jeddah, Medina, Taif, Tabuk, Al-Qassim and Ha’il. The three suspended destinations are served by King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Abha International Airport, all of which have seen operations disrupted in recent weeks.
Etihad Airways has taken the same step. Its flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh also remain cancelled until 5 November. The cancellations follow continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the latest of which was intercepted in the Mecca region, according to ARN News.
Why it matters
The extension means another week of uncertainty for travellers between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, including the many workers, students and families who fly the route regularly. Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s capital and its busiest airport, so a suspension there affects far more than holiday travel.
The split picture also shows airlines judging the risk city by city rather than shutting down a whole country: six Saudi destinations are still served, while the three that have faced the most disruption stay closed for now.
What happens next
The cancellations run through 5 November, and flydubai has not said what happens after that. Passengers booked to Riyadh, Dammam or Abha should check their flight status before heading to the airport, and keep their contact details up to date. If the security situation improves, the airline could restart the routes; if attacks continue, the suspension could be extended again.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.virginradiodubai.com/trending/uae/flydubai-extends-flight-cancellation-to-some-cities-in-saudi-arabia/ (Virgin Radio Dubai / ARN News, 30 Oct 2026)
- https://www.timeoutdubai.com/news/flydubai-saudi-arabia-latest-cancel-november (Time Out Dubai, 30 Oct 2026)
