The management of the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Riyadh has mandated that all employees working within the building work from home, citing potential threats of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The directive is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice, according to information released by the building’s management.
The Kingdom Center, one of the tallest buildings in Saudi Arabia with 99 floors, houses prominent financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and wealth management firm Merril Lynch. While office access has been restricted, the shopping center located at the base of the tower will continue operations for now.
These measures come amid a surge in aggression between the Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-backed Houthis, with heightened attacks affecting infrastructure and civilian areas in Riyadh and its surroundings.
Escalation in Regional Conflict
Hostilities between the two sides have intensified following a four-year ceasefire, especially after the Houthis captured strategic coastal territories along the Red Sea last month. The group has targeted oil facilities, tankers, and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which remains closed after a recent Houthi attack that caused 13 casualties.
The coalition announced the deaths of two helicopter pilots near the Yemen border, citing a technical malfunction, whereas the Houthis claim to have downed an Apache helicopter. Furthermore, Saudi authorities reported intercepting two drones over Riyadh and one above the country’s eastern oil-rich province, alongside the interception of two ballistic missiles in the south.
Implications for Riyadh and Its Residents
In addition to workplace adjustments, educational institutions across Riyadh and its outskirts have continued conducting classes online for a second consecutive week. The ongoing security situation has significantly affected daily life, with key infrastructure like the city’s major airport suspended due to safety concerns.
The Kingdom Center’s move to enforce remote work reflects enhanced precautionary steps taken in response to the elevated risk from Houthi attacks targeting vital locations within Saudi Arabia’s capital.
