Around 4,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims are stranded in the Saudi holy cities of Makkah and Madina after airlines cancelled flights between India and Saudi Arabia, as Houthi attacks on the kingdom's airports and energy infrastructure left Indian carriers scrambling. The figure — put forward by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in a post on X on October 22 — triggered an urgent response from New Delhi: India's Ministry of External Affairs says around 3,000 stranded pilgrims have already been flown home over the past week, and the Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are working with airlines and tour operators to get the rest back.
Why are Indian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia?
The short version: the planes stopped flying. Over the past two weeks, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia has opened a new front against Saudi Arabia, targeting airports and energy fields — including King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Airlines don't take chances with missile threats, so Indian carriers suspended services on key Saudi routes.
The cancellations hit all four major Indian carriers, the Financial Express reported:
- IndiGo: flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madina cancelled until October 24
- Akasa Air: suspension of Riyadh flights extended until October 24
- Air India and Air India Express: cancellations on key Saudi routes
Carriers are offering refunds or rescheduling, depending on booking conditions. That's cold comfort for Umrah pilgrims — most travel on fixed-schedule tour-operator packages — who now face extra hotel bills and no clear way home.
What is the MEA doing for the stranded Indian pilgrims?
The Ministry of External Affairs moved quickly once the scale of the problem became clear. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah were in touch with airlines and tour operators to help those still stranded return home at the earliest.
"Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of other Umrah pilgrims at the earliest," Jaiswal said.
Here's where things stand, according to the MEA: about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims travelled back to India over the past week on available flights, alongside more than 10,000 other pilgrims who returned on their scheduled services. 24-hour control rooms are running, regular advisories are going out, and Indian missions — backed by community volunteers — are providing all possible assistance. Real progress, but with roughly 4,000 still stuck, per Owaisi's count, the job is far from done.
The Dammam airport attack behind the chaos
To understand why flights are cancelled, look at what happened on Wednesday evening, October 21. A drone and missile attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed Kamlesh Pandey, 37, an Indian national from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh who worked as ground staff at the airport. Two other Indian nationals were injured, the Financial Express reported.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed that Saudi authorities had informed it that one Indian national was among two people killed in the attack, and two Indians were among eight injured. According to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the eight injured were two Indians, two Yemenis, two Bangladeshis, one Nepalese national and one Saudi citizen — some in serious condition. We covered the attack and its rising toll in our earlier reports on the Dammam airport attack and the rising death toll, as confirmed by GACA.
It wasn't the only strike. At Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oil field, another Indian national was injured; falling debris from an intercepted drone killed two workers — one from the Philippines and one from Nepal — and injured an Indian and a Pakistani national. On October 11, a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed Mohammed Yusef, 37, an IT professional from Hyderabad travelling with his family to perform Umrah; five other Indians were injured. Saudi Arabia also confirmed intercepting a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Najran this week — see our report on the Najran missile interception.
India condemns the attacks as "completely unacceptable"
New Delhi hasn't minced words. The MEA condemned the attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure, calling them "completely unacceptable" and saying they "must cease immediately."
"We stand in solidarity with the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, and hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest," the MEA said.
It was Owaisi who first put a number on the crisis. "Around 4,000 pilgrims from India are stuck in Makkah and Madina. They had flown via @IndiGo6E @AkasaAir @airindia but are now stuck there since these Airlines have cancelled their flights," the AIMIM chief posted on X on October 22. He urged the aviation regulator DGCA to let airlines operate larger aircraft to move more passengers per flight — and alleged that "the Indian pilgrims have been abandoned by their travel agents."
The stakes go beyond these pilgrims. Saudi Arabia is home to around 2.75 million Indians — workers, professionals, businesspeople and religious travellers. When airports close, it's not just tourists who suffer. And with diplomacy in overdrive — including the Istanbul talks bringing seven foreign ministers together this week — the Houthi strikes on Saudi soil are raising the stakes for the whole region.
Why it matters
This isn't just a travel headache. Many of these pilgrims are from modest backgrounds, travelling on package deals — every extra day in Saudi Arabia means money they may not have. And Owaisi's allegation that travel agents abandoned them, if true, would leave the most vulnerable travellers with nowhere to turn except the embassy. Beyond that, the Houthi campaign against Saudi infrastructure is escalating, and with 2.75 million Indians living in the kingdom, India has a direct stake in how this plays out.
What happens next
The immediate question is whether airlines resume services after October 24 — the current end date for IndiGo's and Akasa Air's suspensions. That depends entirely on whether the skies over Saudi Arabia stay quiet. Owaisi's proposal — bigger aircraft or special repatriation flights — gives the government a concrete fallback if regular schedules can't absorb the backlog. And watch the Houthis: if the attacks continue past October 24, this becomes a much bigger evacuation story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Indian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia?
Airlines including IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India and Air India Express cancelled or suspended flights to Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure. With return flights grounded — IndiGo and Akasa Air until at least October 24 — pilgrims in Makkah and Madina have no way home on their original bookings.
Which airlines cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia?
IndiGo cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madina until October 24. Akasa Air extended its Riyadh suspension until October 24. Air India and Air India Express have also announced cancellations on key Saudi routes. All four are offering refunds or rescheduling, depending on booking conditions.
How many Indian pilgrims are stranded, and how many have returned?
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said around 4,000 pilgrims are stuck in Makkah and Madina. India's MEA says about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims were flown home over the past week on available flights, alongside more than 10,000 regular pilgrims who returned on scheduled services. That leaves a significant number still waiting.
What is the MEA doing to help the stranded Indian pilgrims?
The MEA says the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah are engaging with airlines and tour operators to arrange early returns. Missions have set up 24-hour control rooms, are issuing regular advisories, and — with community volunteers — are providing all possible assistance to affected pilgrims.
What happened at Dammam airport?
On the evening of October 21, a Houthi drone and missile attack struck King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi authorities told India that one Indian national — Kamlesh Pandey, 37, an airport ground-staff worker from Gorakhpur — was among two killed, and two Indians were among eight injured. GACA listed the injured as two Indians, two Yemenis, two Bangladeshis, one Nepalese and one Saudi national.
Was an Indian killed in the Shaybah oil field attack?
No Indian was killed at Shaybah, but one Indian national was injured there. Saudi air defences intercepted a drone aimed at the Aramco-operated facility; falling debris killed two workers — one from the Philippines and one from Nepal — and injured an Indian and a Pakistani national, according to the Financial Express.
Can stranded pilgrims get refunds for cancelled flights?
Yes — airlines are offering refunds or the option to reschedule, depending on the carrier and booking conditions. Pilgrims should stay in touch with their airline and travel provider, and can contact the Indian missions' 24-hour control rooms in Riyadh and Jeddah for guidance.
Key Takeaways
- Around 4,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims are stranded in Makkah and Madina after IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India and Air India Express cancelled Saudi flights (figure per AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, October 22)
- The cancellations follow Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure, including the October 21 Dammam airport attack in which an Indian ground-staff worker was killed
- India's MEA says about 3,000 stranded pilgrims returned home over the past week; embassy and consulate teams are working with airlines and tour operators for the rest
- 24-hour control rooms are running in Riyadh and Jeddah, with advisories and welfare assistance for affected nationals
- IndiGo and Akasa Air suspensions run until October 24 — whether flights resume depends on the security situation
- India has condemned the attacks as "completely unacceptable" and demanded they "cease immediately"
Sources
- Financial Express: 4,000 Indian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia as airlines cancel flights; MEA steps in
- The Indian Express: Indian killed, three others injured in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
- GlobalDeskNews: Dammam Airport Attack: One Killed, Eight Injured in Saudi
- GlobalDeskNews: Dammam Airport Attack: Death Toll Rises to Two, GACA Says
- GlobalDeskNews: Saudi Intercepts Houthi Ballistic Missile Aimed at Najran
- GlobalDeskNews: R4+E3 Istanbul Talks: Fidan Hosts Seven Foreign Ministers