Saudi Arabia is facing growing scrutiny over its public safety measures after its national early warning system stopped issuing alerts days before a series of attacks on Riyadh airport killed at least 18 people and injured more than 300 others.
The Saudi government has yet to explain why no public warnings were issued before four attacks on the capital over the past week, raising questions about the kingdom’s ability to protect residents and travellers amid its conflict with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
The absence of alerts has also intensified concerns about the government’s efforts to maintain an image of stability while responding to growing security threats.
Sultan Alamer, a Saudi academic based in the United States and senior resident fellow at the Middle East Policy Council, said the government appeared to be trying to pursue military operations while reassuring citizens and international partners that the country remained stable.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence authority, which operates under the Interior Ministry and oversees emergency response and public safety alerts, did not respond to questions about why the warnings stopped. The government’s media office also did not respond to requests for comment.
The suspension has raised concerns among regional analysts that withholding public warnings could increase uncertainty rather than reassure residents.
On Monday, Saudi Civil Defence resumed issuing alerts about potential threats in Riyadh and cities in the south. The notifications were the first public security warnings since September 29, when the authority alerted residents to potential danger in the southern province of Najran.
Reuters could not establish whether the renewed warnings were directly connected to the airport attacks. The government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Saudi Arabia introduced its national early warning system in May, using mobile phone notifications and social media to alert residents to potential threats. However, the system stopped issuing security alerts despite an increase in Houthi attacks ahead of last week’s strikes.
The kingdom’s approach contrasts with that of other Gulf countries, which have adopted different methods of informing residents about incoming threats amid the wider US-Iran war that began in February.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry has issued mobile phone alerts ahead of attacks, instructing residents to remain indoors and stay away from windows. Bahrain and Kuwait have also repeatedly sounded sirens urging people to seek shelter.
Although Saudi Arabia’s security alerts were suspended, Civil Defence continued issuing public safety notices about severe weather, including rainfall and flooding. The authority also warned residents against sharing photographs, rumours and unverified information about intercepted missiles and affected areas, following government regulations introduced in March.
Reuters could not determine whether anyone had been prosecuted for circulating such material.
Two officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that representatives of an allied Western government had questioned Saudi authorities about why public warnings stopped before the airport attacks.
According to the officials, Saudi Arabia responded that the notifications were disruptive and had prompted complaints from residents who said they were being woken up at night.
Saudi officials and the government’s media office did not respond to requests for comment on the account.
Former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney said the kingdom was struggling to balance communicating security threats with its efforts to minimise disruption to daily life.
He said the government wanted to respond to Houthi attacks without creating wider social disruption, but warned that failing to alert residents about incoming threats could generate the very fear and uncertainty authorities sought to avoid.
The attacks have also renewed questions about Saudi Arabia’s ability to protect its extensive network of critical infrastructure, including airports, oil facilities and pipelines.
Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi, who is close to the government, said the kingdom’s vast territory made it difficult to defend every potential target simultaneously.
He said Saudi Arabia needed more air defence equipment, including missile interceptors and air defence batteries, to strengthen its ability to counter aerial threats.
Despite the security concerns, Riyadh hosted the World Petroleum Council Energy Congress on Monday, although several prominent oil executives withdrew from the event.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman sought to reassure participants that the kingdom would continue pursuing its economic ambitions despite the threat of further attacks.
The minister, a brother of the Saudi crown prince, thanked attendees for travelling to Riyadh and said they considered the country safe. However, he acknowledged that holding the conference did not mean the security risks had disappeared.
He reiterated the kingdom’s commitment to its long-term development plans despite the challenges.
Two Western officials told Reuters that Riyadh had experienced approximately a dozen attacks during the period when public threat alerts were not being issued before Monday.
Meanwhile, Western embassies in Saudi Arabia continued sending internal missile and drone warnings to their staff, according to three people familiar with the arrangements and alerts reviewed by Reuters.
One source said the notifications drew on intelligence from the United States and other Western governments, alongside information provided by Saudi authorities.
The internal warnings included notifications circulated around the time of two earlier airport attacks. However, people familiar with the matter said embassy staff received no internal warning before Saturday’s strike, the deadliest of the attacks. They did not explain why advance notice was absent.
Reuters said it could not establish why no warning was issued before Saturday’s incident.
Saudi state television broadcast footage of the attack on Sunday, showing travellers inside the airport terminal shortly before the explosion. Passengers were seen queuing to board flights while others sat in waiting areas using their mobile phones.
Moments later, a bright orange flash illuminated the terminal as a missile exploded, underscoring the severity of the attack and intensifying questions about Saudi Arabia’s public warning system and its preparedness for further threats.m
Goodness Anunobi
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