Source : BRICS NEWS
ROME, October 22, 2026 – Italy has urged its citizens to avoid all travel to Saudi Arabia, BRICS News reported, as attacks linked to the wider Middle East conflict raise security concerns across the kingdom.
BRICS News reported the advisory in a post on X, saying Italy had urged its citizens to avoid all travel to Saudi Arabia.
The Italian Foreign Ministry issued the updated guidance late on October 22 through its official travel advisory service, Viaggiare Sicuri. It advised Italians to defer any travel to the kingdom and to avoid Saudi airports where possible. The advice applies to all types of travel, including tourism and business trips, and marks a significant tightening of Rome’s previous guidance on the country.
Italian nationals who need to leave or travel through the region were advised to consider rerouting via neighbouring Gulf states and to use ground transport where appropriate. Those already in Saudi Arabia were told to follow the instructions of local authorities and to take shelter during emergencies.
The ministry also urged citizens to stay away from military and security sites, oil and energy installations, transport hubs and areas that have been hit by recent strikes. It strongly advised against any travel to the southern provinces of Jazan, Najran and Asir, which border Yemen.
The warning follows a series of attacks on Saudi territory. CBS News reported that a Houthi attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed at least two people. The Yemen-based Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran, has repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia and shipping in the region since the war involving Iran began on February 28.
Italy’s advisory adds to a growing list of Western warnings over the kingdom. The United States recently ordered embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia amid the deteriorating security situation, a move that signalled growing concern in Western capitals over the risk of further attacks on the kingdom.
The Gulf has seen a sharp escalation in recent days. Iranian state television reported on October 22 that seven vessels had been hit in the Strait of Hormuz, either in attacks or by mines, according to Reuters, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it could target US bases in the region. Brent crude rose to around US$112–113 a barrel, its highest level since May.
The Italian guidance on the southern provinces reflects their exposure to cross-border attacks from Yemen, which have repeatedly targeted Saudi territory since the conflict began. Saudi Arabia is home to large numbers of foreign workers and receives millions of visitors each year, including pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Medina. Travel warnings from European governments can have a significant impact on tourism and business travel, as well as on airlines operating routes to the kingdom.
Saudi authorities had not publicly responded to the Italian advisory at the time of writing. Italians in the kingdom are advised to keep monitoring the Viaggiare Sicuri service for further updates, as the guidance may change at short notice depending on the security situation.
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