Six Pakistanis Hurt in Riyadh Airport Attack: Foreign Office Orders Embassy to Help
Six Pakistanis were hurt in the Houthi strike on Riyadh airport on 10 October. What Pakistan confirms, what is only reported, and what families should do now.
Six Pakistanis were injured when a Houthi strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday 10 October 2026, and Pakistan's Foreign Office has told the embassy to help them. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on 11 October that the embassy is in touch with Saudi authorities. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on 12 October that he was deeply saddened by the injuries.
Pakistan is calling the strike an act of terrorism and has repeated its pledge to defend Saudi Arabia. Here is what the Pakistani government has said, what is still unconfirmed, and what families with relatives in Riyadh can do.
What Pakistan's Foreign Office said about the Riyadh airport strike
The Foreign Office called the attack "a heinous act of terrorism, a flagrant violation of international law and a grave threat to regional peace and security". It said such attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are totally unacceptable and "must cease immediately".
Mr Dar said he had directed the embassy in Riyadh to coordinate with the concerned authorities and give all possible help to the injured Pakistanis. Pakistan also said it will "continue to stand shoulder to shoulder" with Saudi Arabia, and it backed the kingdom's right to defend its territory and cities.
The Prime Minister's message on 12 October carried the same figure. He said six Pakistani nationals were hurt, prayed for their quick recovery and said the embassy is working with Saudi authorities for the affected families.
What is confirmed and what is not
Pakistan's official statements confirm six injured Pakistanis. They do not give names, ages or hospitals, and they do not report any Pakistani death at the airport. Reports from outside Pakistan describe more, but we could not confirm those on a Pakistani or Saudi government page.
| Item | Status | Source we read |
|---|---|---|
| Six Pakistanis injured on 10 October | Confirmed by Pakistan | Foreign Office and Prime Minister statements |
| Embassy directed to help the injured | Confirmed by Pakistan | Deputy Prime Minister's statement |
| At least 12 killed and 309 wounded in all | Reported, not on a Saudi page we could read | The totals are not in Pakistan's statements |
| A Pakistani resident killed in a second strike on 11 October | Reported only | No Pakistani government statement found |
| Date the airport reopens | Not confirmed | Closure was reported extended by 24 hours |
We are treating the death of a Pakistani resident as unconfirmed until the Foreign Office or the embassy says so. If you have a relative in Riyadh, ask them directly and call the embassy rather than relying on a forwarded message.
Why this matters to the 2.5 million Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia
At its 9 October briefing the Foreign Office spokesperson said about 2.5 million Pakistanis live in Saudi Arabia and that their numbers are growing. He said there is a risk of people becoming victims of the escalation. At that briefing no travel or residence advisory had been issued, and we found none on the Foreign Office website on 13 October.
The strike also lands in the middle of a defence pact. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye agreed on 5 October to rapid deployment of forces under the Makkah agreement, as explained in our guide to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The Foreign Office has said its troops in the kingdom will not enter Yemen, covered in the report on Pakistan's forces and Yemen.
Flights are the most direct effect on travellers. PIA stopped flying to Riyadh on 9 October, and the details of refunds are in the report on the PIA Riyadh suspension.
What families of Pakistanis in Riyadh should do now
Nobody has been told to leave Saudi Arabia. The practical steps are about staying in contact and being ready to get help quickly.
- Call your relative and ask them to stay away from the airport and follow Saudi authority instructions.
- Save the embassy's emergency numbers. They are listed in the guide to the Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia's 24/7 numbers.
- If your relative was injured, ask the hospital for their name and ward, then give the embassy their full name, passport number and Iqama number.
- Keep the passport, Iqama and employer contact in one place that can be reached quickly.
- Register with the embassy online if you have not already, using the steps in how to register with a Pakistani embassy.
The broader route for anyone stuck abroad is in how to get Foreign Office and embassy help.
Do not trust forwarded casualty lists
After an attack, voice notes and lists of "victims" spread quickly on WhatsApp. Many carry the wrong names or old photos. Pakistan's own statements so far give only a number, six.
Check any claim against a Foreign Office or embassy post. Our guide to checking a Foreign Office statement shows how to confirm a release number on the ministry website.
Common questions
How many Pakistanis were injured at Riyadh airport?
Six. The Foreign Office and the Prime Minister both gave that number after the strike on 10 October 2026. No names have been released.
Has Pakistan told its citizens to leave Saudi Arabia?
No. We found no such advisory on the Foreign Office website on 13 October. The spokesperson said on 9 October that about 2.5 million Pakistanis live in the kingdom.
Who helps injured Pakistanis in Riyadh?
The Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh. Mr Dar directed it to coordinate with Saudi authorities and give all possible help. Families should call the embassy's emergency numbers.
Is Riyadh airport open?
It was reported closed and the closure was reported extended by 24 hours. Check your airline before you travel, because we could not read a Saudi aviation notice for the reopening time.
Is PIA flying to Riyadh?
PIA suspended Riyadh flights on 9 October 2026. Other PIA flights to Saudi Arabia were reported to be running. Check with PIA for your ticket.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the Foreign Office's transcript of the 9 October briefing, the Foreign Office statement of 11 October as carried by Pakistan's state news agency, and the Prime Minister's message of 12 October on Radio Pakistan. We could not read a Saudi government page on the casualty totals or the airport reopening, so those figures are marked reported. The steps for families are our own plain-language suggestions.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
