22 October, 2026
Dear KAUST community,
The leadership team continues to monitor the regional situation closely. This message has some important operational updates. KAUST remains safe. Campus, schools and facilities are operating normally. Our community's safety is first and foremost. Some factors, such as airport interruptions and flight cancelations, are outside our control, and we are planning around them.
Effective immediately, all business travel, international and domestic, including field trips, is temporarily paused, with the exception of trips in the immediate area of KAUST. We will continue to review this every few days and keep you updated.
Personal travel remains your decision. Please check your airport and flight status with your airline before you leave for the airport.
If you are away for business or personal travel and cannot return due to logistical constraints, you may use your remote work allowances. If you have used your full remote work balance, additional remote work may be available to you until you return. Please contact your line manager/PI and the HR or Student Helpdesk so we can support you.
HR Helpdesk: hrhelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa | +966 (0) 12 808 2055 | mobile +966 544 700 277
Student Helpdesk: schelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa | +966 (0) 12 808 3412
Student 24/7 travel emergency: +966 54 470 1348
Registrar's Office: registrarhelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa
If you are hosting events or visitors, I strongly advise you to ask guests to check their home country's travel advice for the region. If there are no restrictions, your visitors are welcome to come to campus; however, please be mindful of their ability to return home due to airport disruptions and consider a hybrid event that offers options to join your event or meeting virtually. Please connect with IT to support you in converting your event to a virtual one when needed https://it.kaust.edu.sa/about/contact-us.
I recognize that this is a stressful and uncertain time for our community. I want to encourage you once again to access the support services available to you if needed:
Student support: schelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa | +966 (0) 12 808 3412
HR and employee well-being support: Lyra | company code: email HRHelpdesk@kaust.edu.sa
To reiterate, our security team coordinates closely with national authorities, and a select group of the leadership team meets regularly to monitor the situation. I want to reassure you that KAUST has contingency plans for a range of scenarios, along with several redundancies across our services and systems, to ensure business continuity and additional flexible working arrangements when needed. Moreover, in the event of extended airport disruptions that prevent you from traveling, we have multiple plans in place to ensure your safe departure.
You will hear from us through official channels whenever anything changes. Thank you for your understanding and for following the guidance shared.
Best regards,
Samer Samman
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer