Riyadh Resilient: Life Continues Amidst Deadly Airport Strikes, Schools Shift Online

Riyadh's streets remain bustling, most offices are operational, and sporting events are proceeding as scheduled, even as recent deadly attacks on the Saudi capital's airport have caused significant disruptions to travel and necessitated a shift to remote learning for schools. King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia's second-busiest, will remain closed until midnight on October 17, following a series of attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants. Airport operations were suspended on Saturday after an attack that resulted in 13 fatalities and over 300 injuries, marking the deadliest incident in the kingdom in over a decade. A subsequent attack on Sunday claimed one life and injured nearly a dozen others.

These strikes represent one of the most substantial disruptions to Saudi aviation in years, exacerbating existing challenges for the industry, including regional conflicts and rising jet fuel prices impacting profitability. Despite the repeated assaults, Saudi Minister of Media, Salman Al Dosary, stated on Monday that life in the capital was continuing normally.

Interviews with five Riyadh residents revealed the impact on their daily lives. Christina, a Lebanese citizen working in Riyadh, noted, "The usual traffic is there. The streets are full of cars." She added, "I’m working from the office and the roads look completely normal on my way to work." Tony, another expatriate resident, mentioned his company offered employees the flexibility to work from home or the office, though some colleagues were directed to work remotely. "We could hear loud explosions from time to time, but the situation was worse for those living near the airport," he said.

Several events, summits, and conferences are slated for Riyadh in the coming weeks, with most expected to proceed. However, the Misk Foundation, established by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to foster youth empowerment, announced on Monday that its annual Misk Global Forum would be cancelled due to organizational and logistical challenges. Saudi Pro League football matches are anticipated to continue, and the Riyadh Racing Season is set to commence on Friday. Saudi journalist Ahlam confirmed that Saturday night's Saudi Clasico between Al Hilal and Al Ittihad at the Kingdom Arena proceeded as planned before an audience of approximately 22,800.

Schools in Riyadh have been instructed to transition to remote learning for a week, as per an email sent to parents on Sunday, following directives from the Education Ministry. This marks the second instance in less than a month that the capital's schools have moved to an online format. The Houthis have issued warnings of further strikes targeting Saudi airports. Late on Monday, they claimed to have targeted Riyadh’s international airport with a ballistic missile, shortly after Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying a missile launched by the militant group towards the capital.

These attacks signify a notable escalation in the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which has consistently supported Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Riyadh has pledged retaliation, while US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington is considering joining Saudi strikes against the rebels. President Trump condemned the Riyadh attack, deeming it unacceptable and stating, "The Houthis are misbehaving very badly. No good." He also mentioned plans to speak with Prince Mohammed.

The airport closure has compelled travelers to seek alternative travel arrangements. Ahmed, who needed to travel for work, described his journey: "The [King Khalid] airport is closed and I was travelling for work, so I had to take the longer route," involving driving to Dammam, flying to Jeddah, and then onward to Paris.

Riyadh resident Rami expressed concern over a perceived lapse in public alerts preceding the recent attacks, noting a gap of several weeks until they resumed on Monday. "I received one yesterday," he stated. "Before that, the last one I got was on September 19. And I’m not the only one who noticed the gap." Messages reviewed by The National suggest public alerts had resumed by Monday. Early Tuesday, residents received a Civil Defence message advising them to update their mobile phone operating systems to ensure they receive warnings.

The juxtaposition of busy city streets with disruptions to education and air travel highlights the prevailing uncertainty as Saudi Arabia prepares for potential further attacks and the possibility of a broader conflict involving the US. The surnames of interviewees were withheld upon their request due to the sensitive nature of the situation.