The United States State Department refreshed its travel advisories for 13 Middle East countries on 23 October 2026, warning that Houthi drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, including on civilian airports, could spread beyond the area currently being hit. The countries covered are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Syria, Yemen and Israel, according to The National's account of the updates.

What changed, and what did not

The important detail is that no advisory level changed. Each country's level and risk indicators stayed the same; only the summary wording was rewritten to put more weight on the risk of armed attacks by the Iranian-supported Houthis. A State Department official told The National the updates were not indicative of new Houthi capabilities, but warned that hostilities could escalate rapidly beyond the immediate area. Yemen remains at Level 4, Do Not Travel, while several Gulf and Levant states sit at Level 3, Reconsider Travel.

Embassy moves and flight disruption

The advisory refresh sits alongside staffing changes: the department ordered non-emergency staff and family members to leave missions in Saudi Arabia, and the US Embassy in Djibouti issued its own alert on 23 October warning of flight cancellations and airspace closures. For travellers, the practical effect is a higher chance of last-minute schedule changes on routes through Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, even when conditions on the ground appear calm.

Check before you travel

Advisory wording can change at short notice, so travellers should check the official State Department advisory for their exact destination before booking or departing, and follow embassy alerts while travelling. This brief reports the advisory changes; it is not personal travel or immigration advice. Sources: NonRev Travel News; The National via NonRev Travel News.