Friday, July 18, 2025

Saudi Arabia has received urgent travel alerts from Canada, the UK, US as well as Australia due to the ​​significant security threats in areas of the country such as Najran, Abha, Qatif and areas along the border with Yemen and Iraq. Hundreds of Brits remain trapped in Saudi after the country went into lockdown from Qatar following allegations the country supported terrorism. The warnings are being issued as the number of international visitors from the countries is rising, forcing governments to caution their citizens about unstable conditions in and around areas with conflicts, legal risks associated with activity on social media and potential sudden changes in traveling conditions.

Canada’s official travel advisory urges all citizens to when traveling in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing risks tied to regional tensions, terror threats, and sudden outbreaks of violence. Most notably, the Canadian government has advised travelers to , an area often targeted by . That warning specifically applies to the , which lies dangerously close to this conflict zone.

In addition, Canada warns tourists to avoid all non-essential travel to within 20 kilometers of the , including the towns of and . Also under strict advisory is , which Canadian authorities flagged due to . The , along with its suburb , is also listed as a zone of elevated risk, citing repeated clashes between local militants and Saudi security forces.

This comes as , marking a dramatic increase in travel interest. With such high numbers, the Canadian government is emphasizing the importance of staying informed and adhering strictly to its guidance for high-risk areas.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has also tightened its guidance for travelers to Saudi Arabia, specifically . The advisory further restricts beyond the immediate border, once again impacting areas such as , which has historically seen drone and missile strikes linked to regional conflicts.

The UK has also noted the impact of broader tensions, particularly in light of the . Although the truce has temporarily eased some concerns, the FCDO warns that and travelers should remain vigilant for sudden changes in security. The advisory stresses that travelers must closely follow , monitor , and be ready for at short notice, including airport delays or airspace closures.

The United States has issued one of the most detailed warnings, urging its citizens to , while issuing strict “do not travel” guidance for specific areas. At the top of this list is the , which includes , a city considered highly vulnerable to . The U.S. also advises against visiting , including , due to continued unrest and the risk of violent conflict between civilians and Saudi security forces.

The advisory further highlights how , and although attacks on Saudi territory have subsided during the current truce, . In past years, drone and missile attacks have hit , and even urban centers—making areas like potential targets once more.

One of the more alarming elements of the U.S. advisory is its focus on . U.S. citizens are warned that posting, sharing, or even “liking” content that could be interpreted as critical of Saudi policies may lead to arrest—even if the post was made outside the kingdom. Under Saudi cybercrime and anti-terrorism laws, individuals have received , and Saudi courts do .

Despite these risks, Saudi Arabia continues to welcome growing numbers of international travelers, though specific figures for U.S. citizens were not publicly available. Still, the inclusion of these robust warnings highlights how even leisure travel to the Kingdom must now be accompanied by strict personal conduct and regional awareness.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) continues to , warning of the potential for . The advisory, last updated on June 30, 2025, underscores that conditions can change without notice, particularly as .

Although Australia’s advisory does not list specific cities by name—unlike those from the U.S. and Canada—it reinforces the same concerns for border areas with Yemen and Iraq, as well as general concerns over terrorism, civil unrest, and flight disruptions.

This cautionary message coincides with a gradual uptick in travel from Australia to Saudi Arabia. In February 2025 alone, over 1,560 Australian visitors arrived in the Kingdom, following 1,330 arrivals in December 2024. Though modest in comparison to Canadian numbers, the steady rise in Australian tourism to Saudi Arabia suggests increasing interest—making it all the more critical for travelers to heed official warnings.

Travelers from Canada, the UK, the U.S., and Australia planning to visit Saudi Arabia in 2025 should take note of the following high-risk zones and safety protocols:

Do Not Travel To:

Exercise Increased Caution In:

Prepare For:

• Limited consular access in restricted zones.

Canada, the UK, the US, and Australia have issued urgent travel advisories for Saudi Arabia due to high-risk threats in Najran, Abha, Qatif, and border zones near Yemen and Iraq, where ongoing tensions, drone strikes, and terrorist activity pose serious dangers to travelers. These warnings follow a rise in international tourist arrivals, prompting governments to stress caution in volatile regions.

With Canadian visits surpassing 1 million monthly at peak, and Australian arrivals steadily rising, Saudi Arabia is clearly opening up to more global travelers. Yet as these new travel advisories show, understanding and respecting the complex security landscape is more essential than ever before.