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Why it matters
About 2.74 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia. Under the Saudi notice, even forwarding a clip of an interception can expose them to legal liability, while cancelled flights leave pilgrims and visitors waiting to return.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has asked Indians in Saudi Arabia not to film or share videos of missile interceptions, when missiles and drones are shot down, or of the places where they fall. In a social media post on 25 October 2026, the embassy reposted a notice from Saudi Arabia’s Directorate of Civil Defence and asked the community to follow local rules, after weeks of drone and missile attacks in the kingdom that have killed two Indians.
What the Saudi Arabia advisory on filming says
The Saudi notice is short. “Filming, publishing, or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability,” it said, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI) report carried by ThePrint. “The Indian community residing in Saudi Arabia is requested to abide by local rules and regulations,” the embassy added.
The notice covers three things: video or photos of missile interceptions in the sky, of the sites where missiles, drones or debris land, and passing on such material. Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry gave a similar warning earlier in October but did not say what penalties apply or which law would be used, Gulf News reported. NewsPlainly could not find a published penalty either, so the risk is best read as legal action of an unspecified kind.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh had already said the same in its own words. Its advisory of 13 October told Indians they are “strongly advised to refrain from circulating or reposting any videos or news related to the ongoing events”, according to the advisory document on the embassy website.
Why the Saudi Arabia advisory comes now
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have carried out a series of drone and missile attacks on civilian sites in Saudi Arabia, PTI reported. Two of the attacks hit airports and killed Indians.
- 10 October, Riyadh airport: an Indian national, Mohammed Yousef Ali, was killed. As of 13 October, 11 Indians had been hurt, 4 of them in intensive care, according to the embassy.
- 21 October, Dammam airport: one Indian was among two people killed, the embassy said, as NewsPlainly reported.
- 25 October: the Saudi-led coalition said air defences intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh, PTI reported, citing Gulf News.
About 2.74 million Indians live in Saudi Arabia, the embassy said on 23 October, as reported by Free Press Journal.
Which flights to Saudi Arabia are suspended
Flights suspended by Indian airlines are the other big worry for Indians in Saudi Arabia.
Indian airlines have cancelled flights to several Saudi cities. This table brings together the latest dates reported up to 25 October.
| Airline | Route | Suspended until | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air India, Air India Express | Riyadh, Dammam | 7 November | Embassy post, via PTI |
| Air India, Air India Express | Jeddah | 31 October | Embassy post, via PTI |
| IndiGo | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah | 31 October | Asianet Newsable |
| Akasa Air | Jeddah; Riyadh | 10 November; 30 November | Asianet Newsable |
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport was preparing to restart domestic and international flights on 25 October, PTI reported, citing Gulf News. Air India’s suspension was covered in detail in NewsPlainly’s report on 25 October.
What Indians in Saudi Arabia should do now
These steps are drawn from the embassy’s advisories of 13, 18 and 25 October. NewsPlainly has only put them in one place.
- Do not film or share interceptions, impact sites or videos about the attacks, including forwarding clips on WhatsApp.
- During an aerial attack, take shelter indoors, in an inner room away from windows, and follow instructions from Saudi authorities through official channels, the embassy said on 13 and 18 October.
- If your visa runs out because there are no flights: people on visit, tourist, Umrah or business visas will be allowed to leave without paying overstay fines, the embassy said Saudi authorities told it. They should still leave as soon as flights are available.
- If you must leave urgently: the embassy says flights from Qatar or Bahrain are an option, but a visa for that country is needed.
- Umrah pilgrims: plan for cancellations that may stretch the stay, the embassy said on 18 October, Business Today reported. The consulate in Jeddah runs 24-hour control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah offering food and medicines to stranded Indians, PTI reported.
- Keep in touch with the airline and check flight status before going to the airport.
The embassy’s 24-hour control room numbers, as listed in its 13 October advisory, are +966-554412016 and +966-542126784, toll-free 8002471234 (from within Saudi Arabia only), WhatsApp +966-536216082 for messages, and email cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in. Its X account is @IndianEmbRiyadh.
What happens next for Indians in Saudi Arabia
The flight suspensions run until late October and November, and the embassy has been issuing updates every few days. The consulate is also talking to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and its foreign ministry about visa validity and delayed departures, PTI reported. New dates for flights and any change to the advice will come through the embassy’s official posts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I film missile interceptions in Saudi Arabia?
No. A Saudi Civil Defence notice, reposted by the Indian Embassy on 25 October 2026, says filming, publishing or sharing such footage or impact sites exposes people to legal liability.
What is the Indian Embassy Riyadh helpline number?
+966-554412016 and +966-542126784, toll-free 8002471234 from within Saudi Arabia, WhatsApp +966-536216082 (messages only), email cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in.
Will I be fined if my Saudi visa expires because flights are cancelled?
The embassy says Saudi authorities will let visit, tourist, Umrah and business visa holders leave without overstay fines if they could not fly, but they should leave as soon as flights are available.