ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia has urged Pakistani expatriates in the Kingdom to remain calm and respect local laws as tensions in the Gulf region continue to disrupt air travel, affecting thousands of passengers, including Umrah pilgrims.
In a video message released by the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq called on Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia to avoid spreading rumours and maintain discipline during the ongoing regional crisis.
“I would like to request you all that under the current circumstances, please remain calm and show discipline,” Farooq said.
“Respect local laws and do not believe rumours of any sort.”
🔊 Message from Ambassador @AmbFarooq for #Pakistanis in the Kingdom of #SaudiArabia. pic.twitter.com/LYvCIAZCzH
— Pakistan Embassy Saudi Arabia (@PakinSaudiArab) March 8, 2026
Flight disruptions across Middle East
Air travel across the Middle East has been severely affected after several regional countries closed their airspace when Iran launched strikes on United States bases in the Gulf.
The closures disrupted major international air corridors and forced airlines to cancel or reroute thousands of flights worldwide.
The conflict has also had a significant impact on Pakistan’s aviation sector.
Hundreds of international and domestic flights have been cancelled in Pakistan since the escalation began on February 28, with many of the affected routes linking the South Asian country to destinations in the Middle East.
Assistance for stranded passengers
Ambassador Farooq said Pakistani diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia were aware of the difficulties faced by travellers due to flight delays and cancellations.
“For your facilitation, we have deployed our teams at Saudi Arabia’s airports who are monitoring the situation arising from the suspension in flights,” he said.
He added that embassy teams were assisting Pakistani passengers in arranging accommodation, food and medicines where required, and helping them with flight rebooking.
The ambassador said Pakistani missions had also deployed staff at Saudi Arabia’s border areas to facilitate citizens travelling to nearby cities and eventually returning to Pakistan.
He advised Pakistanis facing emergencies to contact the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate General of Pakistan in Jeddah through designated emergency landlines.
Regional aviation hubs affected
The ongoing disruption has also affected some of the region’s busiest aviation hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways normally handle around 90,000 passengers a day through these airports, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Ratings agency Fitch said the duration of the aviation disruption following the February 28 strikes by Israel and the United States on Iran, and Iran’s subsequent retaliation across the region, would determine the broader impact on sectors including airlines, airports, hospitality, insurance and aircraft leasing.
