The Indonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) has confirmed that 49,000 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are safe amid flight disruptions said to be related to the escalation of armed conflict in the region.
“Currently, there are 49,000 Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, and all of them are safe,” said Heni Hamidah, Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a media briefing in Jakarta, Thursday (22/10/2026).
Heni confirmed that the Houthi group’s attacks on a number of airports in Saudi Arabia had disrupted flight operations, especially in the Riyadh area.
However, flights at Jeddah and Medina airports have reportedly returned to normal operations.
According to Heni, the flight cancellation rate at the two airports reached 7 percent, while the delay rate was recorded at 11 percent.
To anticipate the impact of flight disruptions, personnel from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Jeddah remain on standby 24 hours a day at the airport.
They monitor the smooth running of flight services while providing assistance to affected Indonesian pilgrims.
Heni also ensured that Indonesian citizens (WNI), including Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) residing in Saudi Arabia, were safe.
A number of airports in Saudi Arabia have reportedly been targeted by attacks by the Yemen-based Ansar Allah or Houthi group.
However, information regarding the location of the attack, the number of casualties, and its impact on flight operations should refer to verified reports.
According to a Sputnik report cited in the news, the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 killed 12 people and injured 309.
An attack on October 11 at the same airport reportedly killed one person and injured 11 others.
Meanwhile, on October 21, the Houthi group reportedly launched a drone attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The attack reportedly killed two people and injured eight others.
The conflict between the Houthi group and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces is said to have flared up again in mid-July, after having subsided for four years.
