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The management of Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre building has made remote working mandatory for all office employees effective immediately, according to an email seen by AFP. The directive asks tenants to refrain from attending offices during this period while the mall at the base of the tower continues normal operations. This decision follows recent Houthi strikes that prompted extended remote learning in schools and the closure of Riyadh’s main airport.
The measure reflects growing security concerns in the Saudi capital after a series of attacks claimed by the Iran-backed Houthis. Last week’s strike on King Khalid International Airport killed three people including an airline pilot, the kingdom’s civil aviation authority reported. Several others of different nationalities were wounded in the assaults that also damaged a Saudia aircraft on the ground.
In a related development the same day, the Saudi-led coalition reported that two officers were killed when an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter crashed in the Najran region inside Saudi territory. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki attributed the incident to a technical malfunction, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. The crash represents the first military deaths for the coalition forces since the Yemen conflict reignited in July.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree had claimed late on Saturday that his group shot down an Apache helicopter in the area, a statement at odds with the coalition’s account. The coalition has also announced the interception of multiple Houthi drones and ballistic missiles targeting various Saudi regions in recent hours. These incidents underscore the ongoing escalation along the Saudi-Yemen border.
The Kingdom Centre, a prominent skyscraper in Riyadh featuring a distinctive design with an observation deck, has become a symbol of the city’s modern skyline. Its closure of office spaces adds to precautionary steps taken across the business sector amid the heightened threat level. Embassies from several countries have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the kingdom.
The broader conflict stems from the Houthi rebellion that began in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia to lead a military intervention the following year, according to historical accounts. A fragile truce agreed in 2022 lasted until July this year when fighting resumed with increased intensity. The Houthis’ recent capture of strategic areas along the Red Sea has further complicated regional stability.
