Saudi Arabia issued warning alerts across the country on Thursday, September 24, 2026, including the holy city of Mecca, Jeddah, Yanbu and parts of Tabuk. The Saudi Civil Defence advised residents and visitors to follow official safety warnings and move to secure areas if alerts are issued and to go to a safe place if alerts are issued.
The warnings drew attention because Mecca, one of Islam’s holiest cities, was among the areas covered by the alerts. But authorities did not initially specify the exact nature of the danger.
Saudi Civil Defence Issues Alerts.
Saudi Civil Defence said the National Early Warning Platform had issued alerts warning of a potential danger in several locations.
The regions mentioned are Mecca City, Jeddah Governorate, Yanbu Governorate and Tabuk Province. Reuters also reported that alerts covered Taif in Mecca.
According to Hindustan Times, the alerts were lifted for Mecca, Tabuk, Jeddah and Yanbu after the danger had passed.
What Were People Told to Do?
Saudi Civil Defence advised people receiving the alerts to stay calm and follow instructions issued through official channels.
Residents were instructed to stay inside buildings or move to interior rooms away from windows. People were also advised to avoid open areas, glass, balconies and rooftops while the warning was in place.
People outdoors were instructed to enter the nearest building or take shelter behind a solid barrier.
People driving when the alert was issued were told to stop and stay away from bridges and high-rise buildings, the statement said.
People were also advised not to approach dangerous places or take photographs of them.
Weather Warnings Also in Place.
Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology was also showing weather warnings for Thursday, including heavy rain, moderate rain, fog and light rain in different parts of the kingdom.
The Makkah region had a red alert for heavy rain and Jeddah and several other places were under fog-related alerts. Some parts of Tabuk were also under orange alerts for fog.
The weather warnings are separate from the Civil Defence messages and the exact connection, if any, between the two was not established in the reports.
Why Mecca’s Alert Drew Attention.
The inclusion of Mecca attracted particular attention because the city is one of Islam's most important holy places and receives visitors from around the world.
But the Civil Defence alert should not be taken as a confirmation of an attack. The initial messaging referred to a potential danger but did not explain why.
This distinction is important because recent weeks have also seen security alerts in Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported on September 18 that Civil Defence had issued warnings covering Jeddah, Taif, Khamis Mushait and Al Ula, while AFP had earlier alerts connected to increased regional tensions.
