Key points

  • Coordinated attacks struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam early Thursday.
  • The explosions killed three people and wounded 36 others, many of whom were rushed to nearby hospitals.
  • Saudi security forces sealed the affected terminals, launched a criminal investigation and announced an immediate tightening of security protocols at all airports nationwide.
  • The incidents raise safety concerns for the large number of Pakistani expatriates, pilgrims and business travelers who regularly use Saudi air hubs.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that the blasts, which appeared to be synchronized, hit the departure halls of the two busiest airports in the kingdom. Emergency crews arrived within minutes, providing first‑aid and evacuating victims to medical facilities in Riyadh and Dammam. Initial reports indicate that the three fatalities were airport staff members, while the injured include airline personnel and passengers awaiting flights.

In response, Saudi police cordoned off the damaged sections, halted departures and arrivals at both sites, and deployed additional troops to other aviation facilities across the country. Officials pledged a thorough investigation, with the Ministry of Interior saying that any group responsible for “endangering public safety” will be pursued aggressively. Security checkpoints have been reinforced, and random bag‑checks have been intensified at all major terminals.

The attacks arrive at a sensitive time for Pakistan‑Saudi relations. Hundreds of thousands of Pakistani workers travel to Saudi Arabia each month for employment, and the kingdom hosts millions of Pakistani pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. Disruptions at the kingdom’s main airports could affect flight schedules for Pakistani airlines, increase travel costs, and heighten anxiety among families awaiting the safe return of their relatives. Pakistani authorities have already alerted their own diplomatic mission in Riyadh to monitor the situation and to provide consular assistance to any affected citizens.

Security analysts note that Saudi Arabia has faced sporadic threats from regional extremist groups in recent years, but coordinated assaults on major civil‑aviation hubs are relatively rare. The incidents underscore the broader challenge of protecting critical infrastructure in a volatile neighbourhood, prompting neighboring countries, including Pakistan, to reassess their own airport security measures and emergency response plans.