Nepalis in Saudi Arabia urged to follow security alerts amid drone attacks

Nepal’s embassy in Riyadh has urged Nepalis living in Saudi Arabia to remain highly vigilant and follow instructions from local security authorities amid growing threats from missile and drone attacks.

In a notice issued on Monday, the embassy advised Nepalis to stay indoors when security alerts are in effect, regularly check announcements from official Saudi authorities and strictly follow safety instructions.

As fighting between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia intensifies, missiles and drones have targeted airports, oil infrastructure and other critical sites in the kingdom. On Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted three ballistic missiles and four drones aimed at the country’s eastern and southern regions.

On October 21, Saudi air defences intercepted a drone targeting the Shaybah oil field operated by state-owned Saudi Aramco. Debris from the intercepted drone struck a contractor’s vehicle, killing a Nepali worker and a Filipino national and injuring a Pakistani and an Indian worker.

An attack at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on the same day killed two people and injured eight others, including a Nepali national. The incidents have heightened concerns over the safety of Nepali workers in Saudi Arabia.

The embassy has also urged Nepalis not to post or share unverified news, information, photographs or videos on social media. It said people should not forward unverified material to others either.

Nepalis planning to travel by air have also been advised to take precautions. Before travelling from Saudi Arabia to Nepal or any other country, they should confirm with their airline or another official source whether their scheduled flight has been changed before heading to the airport.

The embassy has asked Nepalis who need assistance to contact the embassy in Riyadh or Nepal’s Consulate General in Jeddah.

An estimated 400,000 Nepalis work in Saudi Arabia. The recent attacks have heightened concerns over their safety and underscored the need for greater caution when travelling or moving around the country.