Riyadh Schools Switch to Remote Learning for Week Amid Houthi Attacks, No Official Reason Given

Parents across Riyadh received emails from schools on Sunday, September 27, 2026, announcing a last-minute shift to remote learning for one week, according to AFP. Two separate messages seen by AFP stated that We have just been informed by Saudi authorities that schools must remain closed all week. Saudi authorities provided no official reason for the directive, which affected students, teachers, educational and administrative staff across the capital and was communicated with zero advance notice. One parent told AFP that When a decision affects an entire school community for a full week, families deserve clear communication and transparency about the reasons behind it, and a Lebanese expatriate in Riyadh added, It's a last-minute decision. We have no clue what's happening.

The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions in the Gulf and near-daily attacks aimed at Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis said on Saturday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones targeting the kingdom, with the missiles aimed at Khamis Mushait and the drones heading for Riyadh. The United Nations Security Council condemned the escalating attacks, noting that the strikes have wounded civilians, including women and children. The Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in July 2026, hitting Saudi tankers and territory and seizing swathes of Yemen's Red Sea coast, after years of relative calm following a 2022 UN-brokered truce ended with the resumption of hostilities.

Sources

Sources: AFP, Deccan Chronicle, Oman Observer, Arab News Pakistan, Malay Mail, ARY News, Free Malaysia Today, Daily Sun, 24 News HD, Al Jazeera. All sources cite identical AFP wire copy reporting on September 27, 2026. Houthi blockade declaration verified via Wikipedia and Al Jazeera coverage from July 20, 2026. Quotes verified across outlets.