India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are assisting stranded Umrah pilgrims following the Dammam airport attack that killed an Indian national. Authorities are coordinating repatriation, providing welfare assistance and operating 24-hour helplines.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are providing assistance to affected Indian nationals and stranded Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia following an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that killed two people, including an Indian national, and injured several others.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that Indian diplomatic missions were coordinating with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of affected pilgrims. The missions are also working with community volunteers to provide welfare assistance to Indian nationals facing difficulties.
According to the MEA, approximately 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia to India on available flights over the past week. This is in addition to more than 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims who had booked their journeys and travelled back to India during the same period.
The ministry said arrangements were being discussed to facilitate the return of the remaining pilgrims as soon as possible. It added that 24-hour control rooms had been established to assist Indian nationals, while regular advisories were being issued to keep them informed about the situation.
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said it was gathering further information about the Dammam airport attack and contacting the families of the affected Indian nationals.
In a statement posted on X, the embassy said Saudi authorities had confirmed that an Indian national was among the two people killed in the incident, while two other Indian nationals were injured. The embassy expressed condolences to the bereaved family and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) subsequently confirmed that two people had died in the attack at King Fahd International Airport on the evening of Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The fatalities included one Saudi citizen and one Indian resident.
The authority also reported eight injuries, including one Saudi citizen, two Indian nationals, two Yemeni nationals, two Bangladeshi nationals and one Nepalese national. According to GACA, the injuries ranged from minor to critical, and the affected individuals were receiving medical treatment at several hospitals.
The Saudi civil aviation authority said it was coordinating with the relevant authorities to assess the damage, verify the safety of airport facilities and implement necessary measures to protect passengers and personnel.
GACA further stated that airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal. The authority said efforts were continuing to maintain the security and safety of the country’s civil aviation system.
Meanwhile, India strongly condemned the continued attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including the strike on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and the attack on Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province on October 21.
In its statement, the MEA said the attacks had resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. India reiterated that attacks targeting civilian and critical infrastructure were unacceptable and called for such actions to cease immediately.
The ministry also expressed solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty. It voiced hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest.
The developments have prompted Indian diplomatic missions to intensify their engagement with affected nationals, travel operators and airlines, particularly to assist pilgrims whose travel plans have been disrupted.
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The MEA’s response focuses on facilitating the return of stranded Umrah pilgrims, maintaining communication with Indian nationals and ensuring that affected families receive assistance. The 24-hour control rooms and regular advisories are intended to provide support and timely information during the ongoing situation.
Indian authorities have urged nationals requiring assistance to remain in contact with the Indian Embassy or Consulate and follow official advisories regarding travel arrangements and safety. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Indian citizens and pilgrims in Saudi Arabia while monitoring developments following the airport attack.
