EU and Gulf states postpone Saudi Arabia summit over Houthi security concerns

The European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council postponed their joint summit scheduled for October 24, 2026 in Riyadh amid escalating security risks. Fatal Houthi missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport killed up to 18 people and forced its closure, disrupting regional air travel. The violence triggered cancellations and delays across major Saudi events, including the FIFAe Finals, Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, and Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Postponement of the EU-GCC summit

• ▪The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council postponed their joint summit scheduled for October 24, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia due to security concerns
• ▪Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on October 15, 2026 that the EU-GCC summit in Riyadh was being postponed due to security concerns
• ▪GCC Secretary General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi cited ongoing Houthi threats against civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia as the cause for postponing the EU-Gulf summit scheduled for October 24 in Riyadh
• ▪The European Union stated that it attaches great strategic importance to ties with Gulf states and remains committed to deepening the partnership despite the postponement of the EU-Gulf summit scheduled for October 24

Fatal Houthi attack on Riyadh airport

• ▪Houthi missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh during the weekend of October 10-11, 2026 killed between 13 and 18 people and injured more than 300
• ▪King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remained closed as of October 15, 2026 following repeated Houthi missile strikes
• ▪The Houthi movement in Yemen claimed responsibility for the deadly missile attacks against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 8, 2026
• ▪The closure of King Khalid International Airport suspended flight operations and affected air travel logistics across Saudi Arabia

Recent Houthi missile and drone attacks

• ▪The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile over Medina and a hostile drone in the Eastern Province on October 15, 2026
• ▪The Saudi-led coalition intercepted three ballistic missiles and two drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi forces toward Riyadh and Dhahran on October 13, 2026
• ▪Falling debris from intercepted Houthi missiles injured five people and damaged 16 homes in residential areas of Riyadh around October 14, 2026

Disruption of major events and tournaments

• ▪Organizers of the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia evaluated safety measures including a hybrid format with video participants for its late October 2026 conference
• ▪FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 video game tournament originally scheduled to begin October 16, 2026 in Jeddah
• ▪Organizers cancelled the Saudi Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Misk Global Forum youth event following the wave of Houthi missile strikes
• ▪Saudi Arabia postponed the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition tournament in Riyadh from late October to late December 2026 citing organizational challenges