Riyadh schools shift to remote learning for a week as Houthi attacks on Saudi capital continue

Schools in Riyadh have told parents that classes will move online for the rest of the week, in an abrupt change the Saudi authorities have not explained. Several schools in the Saudi capital sent messages to parents over the weekend saying lessons would be held remotely from Sunday to Thursday; The National reported it had seen at least three such messages from three different schools, while AFP said parents received last-minute emails on Sunday. None of the messages gave a reason, and the Ministry of Education has not commented publicly.

The shift comes a day after the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said its air defences had intercepted and destroyed two Houthi drones headed for the Riyadh area early on Saturday. Coalition spokesman Brig Gen Turki Al Malki said two ballistic missiles fired towards the south-western city of Khamis Mushait were also brought down. Two days earlier, the coalition said it had intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif and the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The Iran-backed rebels have stepped up near-daily attacks on Saudi Arabia since July, when they declared a naval blockade on the kingdom.

Hours before Saturday’s interceptions, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey met in Riyadh to discuss threats to the kingdom; the three countries signed a joint defence pact last month under which an attack on one is treated as an attack on all. Saudi Arabia has previously used its Madrasati online platform to move classes out of school buildings, most recently for a day in Riyadh and the Eastern Province in December.

Sources

• The National: “Riyadh schools switch to remote learning amid Houthi threat” (27 September 2026) — https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/09/27/riyadh-schools-switch-to-remote-learning-for-a-week/
• Mathrubhumi English (AFP inputs): “Riyadh schools shift online for a week amid tensions” (27 September 2026) — https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/riyadh-schools-remote-learning-week-houthi-attacks-ye8d00pi
• Dawn: “Missiles fired at Riyadh, intercepted by coalition” (27 September 2026 print edition) — https://www.dawn.com/news/2032939
• Al Jazeera: “Yemen government forces widen attacks against Houthis: What we know” (27 September 2026) — https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/9/27/yemen-government-forces-widen-attacks-against-houthis-what-we-know