Brief
Travelers reroute via Bahrain and Dammam as Riyadh airport remains closed
Dubai‑based travellers are using Bahrain and Dammam as transit points after Riyadh airport closures forced longer road journeys.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Following the suspension of direct flights to Riyadh after recent attacks on Saudi airports, residents travelling between the UAE and Saudi Arabia are opting for longer routes that combine short flights with road transfers, Khaleej Times reported on Oct. 15.
What happened
Direct air services to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh have been halted, prompting travellers to seek alternatives. Some are flying from Dubai to Manama, Bahrain, then driving five to six hours to Riyadh. Others are taking a flight from Dubai to Dammam and completing a four‑hour road leg to the capital. The adjustments add several hours to typical journeys and require additional planning.
What the reports add
The article cites two individual cases. A 59‑year‑old senior British professional, who asked to remain unnamed, will fly from Dubai to Bahrain and then drive to Riyadh, expecting a five‑to‑six‑hour road trip. A 46‑year‑old marketer, Vijayan R., flew from Dubai to Dammam to attend the World Petroleum Congress 2026 and then drove four hours to Riyadh. After the event, he plans to return to Dammam by road, travel one hour to Bahrain, and fly back to the UAE.
What was said
"I had gone to the UK to meet my family, but with the airports closed, I had to find an alternative way to get back to Riyadh," the British professional told Khaleej Times. "I have now travelled to Dubai and will take a flight from here to Manama in Bahrain. From there, I will travel by road to Riyadh, which is expected to take around five to six hours."
Vijayan R. explained, "It was a big event in Riyadh’s calendar, so I had to travel to Riyadh anyway. I took a flight from Dubai to Dammam in Saudi Arabia and then travelled by road to Riyadh, which takes around four hours." He added, "I intend going back to Dammam by road and then go to Bahrain by road, which takes around one hour. After that, I’ll fly out from Bahrain, back to the UAE."
How it came about
The disruption follows a series of Houthi missile strikes that damaged Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and killed three civilians, leading Saudi authorities to extend the closure until Oct. 17. Earlier Felo News coverage documented the airport shutdown and the resulting travel restrictions for foreign staff, as well as the reopening of limited services at other Saudi airports. Those reports provide context for why residents are now relying on Bahrain and Dammam as transit hubs.
Key facts
- Riyadh airport remains closed, forcing travellers to use alternative routes (khaleejtimes.com)
- Some residents fly from Dubai to Bahrain and then drive five to six hours to Riyadh (khaleejtimes.com)
- Others fly from Dubai to Dammam and drive about four hours to Riyadh (khaleejtimes.com)
- A senior British professional plans a Dubai‑Manama‑Riyadh journey lasting several hours (khaleejtimes.com)
- Marketer Vijayan R. attended the World Petroleum Congress 2026 via Dubai‑Dammam‑Riyadh (khaleejtimes.com)
Sources
- [1] khaleejtimes.com — originally reported as “Dubai to Riyadh via Bahrain: Travellers take longer routes amid airport disruptions”
