Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is facing questions over its decision to stop issuing public warnings about incoming military threats after a series of attacks struck Riyadh airport, reportedly killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 300 over the past week.
The absence of alerts has raised concerns about civilian safety, the protection of critical infrastructure and the government’s handling of public communication as the conflict involving Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement intensifies.
According to a report by Reuters, Saudi authorities had previously used a national early warning system to notify residents of potential military threats through mobile phones and social media. However, the warnings stopped despite an increase in Houthi attacks leading up to the latest strikes on the capital’s airport.
The Saudi government has not publicly explained why alerts were not issued before the attacks in Riyadh. The country’s Civil Defence authority, which operates under the Interior Ministry and is responsible for emergency management and public warnings, did not comment on the matter, according to Reuters.
Why did Saudi Arabia stop issuing public alerts?
Saudi Arabia began sending public threat notifications through its national early warning system in May. The messages provided residents with information about potential dangers and offered guidance on how to respond.
According to posts on the Saudi Civil Defence authority’s account on X, the last warning about a military threat before the latest attacks was issued on September 29 for the southern province of Najran.
The lack of subsequent alerts has prompted questions about whether the authorities changed their approach to public warnings as the security situation deteriorated.
Two officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that officials from an allied Western government had asked Saudi authorities why the alerts had stopped ahead of the airport attacks.
According to the officials, the response was that the warnings were disruptive and that some residents had complained about being woken up at night.
The Saudi government has not publicly confirmed this explanation. The reported concerns nevertheless highlight the challenge of maintaining an early warning system while limiting disruption to everyday life.
Sultan Alamer, a US-based Saudi academic and senior resident fellow at the Middle East Policy Council, told Reuters that the government appeared to be attempting to sustain public confidence while conducting military operations.
He said the authorities wanted to pursue military action while reassuring both the population and external stakeholders about the country’s stability.
The absence of public warnings has added to concerns about how residents can prepare for incoming threats when attacks target airports and other important facilities.
Gulf neighbours continue warning residents
Saudi Arabia’s approach contrasts with the public warning measures adopted by some neighbouring Gulf countries facing missile and drone attacks since the US-Iran war began in February, according to the report.
Qatar has used mobile phone alerts to warn residents before attacks, including during strikes in July. The notifications instructed people to remain indoors and keep away from windows.
Bahrain and Kuwait, meanwhile, have repeatedly sounded sirens to alert residents and direct them to seek shelter.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence authority has continued issuing warnings about other hazards, including heavy rain and flooding, even as public notifications about military threats have stopped.
On Monday, the authority also cautioned residents against sharing photographs, rumours or information concerning missile interceptions and impact sites. The warning referred to government regulations introduced in March.
The difference between continued alerts for natural hazards and the absence of public warnings about military threats has drawn attention to the kingdom’s communication strategy during the conflict.
Former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney told Reuters that Riyadh appeared to be struggling to balance its response to the Houthi threat with its desire to avoid widespread public alarm.
He warned that the absence of alerts about incoming attacks could create the very anxiety the government was seeking to prevent.
Questions over protection of critical infrastructure
The attacks have also renewed scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s capacity to protect its extensive territory and strategically important infrastructure.
The kingdom has major airports, oil facilities and pipelines spread across a vast area, making comprehensive air defence a significant challenge.
Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the government, told Reuters that defending every potential target would be difficult given the country’s size and the number of critical facilities requiring protection.
He argued that the country needed extensive air defence capabilities, including missile batteries and interceptors, to protect its infrastructure against incoming threats.
The concerns extend beyond the immediate damage caused by the airport strikes. Airports are vital to civilian travel, international business and the movement of visitors, while attacks on energy infrastructure could have wider economic implications.
The lack of public warnings has therefore raised two related questions: whether the kingdom has sufficient defensive capacity to protect its most important facilities and whether residents are receiving enough information to respond to potential attacks.
However, the reported absence of alerts alone does not establish why the attacks occurred or whether additional warnings would have prevented the casualties.
Security concerns cloud Saudi Arabia’s economic ambitions
Despite the attacks, Saudi Arabia continued hosting international engagements as it sought to maintain confidence in its economic plans.
Riyadh hosted the World Petroleum Council Energy Congress on Monday, although several major oil executives withdrew from the event.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman adopted a defiant tone during the gathering, thanking delegates who had travelled to the kingdom while acknowledging that the security risks had not disappeared.
“Our gathering here does not mean the risk is gone,” he said.
The minister’s remarks reflected the challenge facing Saudi Arabia as it attempts to sustain international business activity while dealing with heightened security concerns.
The kingdom has pursued an ambitious economic transformation programme aimed at diversifying its economy and attracting international investment. Persistent attacks on major facilities could complicate efforts to reassure businesses, investors and visitors about operational stability.
The airport strikes have consequently raised concerns that extend beyond immediate public safety to the wider perception of security in the kingdom.
Foreign embassies maintain separate warning systems
Although Saudi authorities had stopped issuing public alerts about incoming military threats, foreign diplomatic missions continued to warn their own staff, Reuters reported.
Western embassies in the kingdom sent internal missile and drone notifications based on intelligence shared by the United States and other Western governments, as well as information from Saudi authorities.
According to sources cited by Reuters, embassy staff received warnings around the time of two of the first airport strikes last week.
However, the sources said the embassies had received no internal warning before Saturday’s attack, described in the report as the deadliest of the strikes.
The distinction between public warnings and intelligence shared with diplomatic missions has drawn further attention to the flow of security information during the conflict.
Saudi state television subsequently broadcast footage showing passengers waiting inside the airport terminal. Travellers were seen queuing for flights and sitting with their mobile phones when a bright orange flash appeared as a missile exploded.
The reported toll of at least 18 dead and more than 300 injured has intensified scrutiny of the attacks and the measures available to protect civilians.
With no public explanation yet from Saudi authorities for the suspension of military threat alerts, questions remain about the decision-making process, the country’s air defence capabilities and how residents will be informed of future threats.