DMM: Dammam Airport Reopens After Deadly Attack

DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia — October 22, 2026 — King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was attacked late on Wednesday, October 21. Two people were killed and eight were injured. Flights were diverted overnight. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Thursday that operations had resumed and air traffic was back to normal.

What happened

The attack: The airport was hit on the evening of Wednesday, October 21. Aerospace Global News reports that operations stopped from about 23:15 local time. GACA has not described the type of attack or how much damage was done, saying only that the airport suffered material damage.
Casualties: GACA first reported one person killed and eight injured. Its updated statement raised the death toll to two: a Saudi citizen and an Indian national living in the Kingdom. The eight injured are a Saudi citizen and seven foreign residents from India, Yemen, Bangladesh and Nepal. Their injuries range from minor to serious.
Diversions: Flightradar24 said flights were diverted away from Dammam after the attack.
Operations resumed: On Thursday, October 22, GACA said operations had resumed once safety and security checks were finished. It gave no time for the restart (TBA). TravelMole cites Flightradar24 data showing that 17% of Thursday morning departures were cancelled.
Who was responsible: The Associated Press reports that authorities had not said who carried out the attack, and that the Houthis had not commented.
Wider picture: On the same day, debris from an intercepted drone killed two people at the Aramco-run Shaybah oil field. The US ordered some diplomats and the families of US government staff to leave Saudi Arabia, and the US Embassy in Riyadh warned of possible further attacks.

Dammam flights: airline status

From Gulf News’s October 22 flight-status list. Dates can change at short notice.

Airline	Dammam status
Etihad	Abu Dhabi–Dammam cancelled through October 24
Qatar Airways	Suspended through October 24
Air India, Air India Express	Suspended through October 24
IndiGo	Cancelled through October 24
flydubai	Cancelled October 22
Emirates	Cancelled; end date TBA
SalamAir	Cancelled through October 31
KLM	Cancelled through October 31
Lufthansa Group	Suspended through November 30

What it means for travelers

Don’t plan on Dammam as a backup for Riyadh. Saudia has been rerouting some Riyadh passengers through Dammam and Jeddah. After this attack, Dammam is less dependable, and the flights still running are likely to be full.
Expect full flights. Most foreign carriers are off Dammam for days or weeks, so passengers are being squeezed onto fewer flights.
Check before every leg. GACA says traffic is back to normal, but some Thursday departures were still cancelled. Confirm your flight with the operating airline right before you leave for the airport.
Carry on. With diversions and cancellations possible at short notice, a checked bag can easily end up in a different city from you.
Read the government advice. The US has ordered some staff and families out of Saudi Arabia.