Canada’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that Canada’s embassy in Riyadh remains open for Canadians in need of consular assistance. This came as Ottawa condemned the Houthi attacks on the international airport in Riyadh.
Ambassador Jean-Philippe Lenteau said in a video on Sunday that anyone in Riyadh encountering military debris should stay away and contact authorities, and not post about it on social media.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen said another projectile hit the passenger terminal at Riyadh airport on Sunday. This comes just one day after a missile attack on the same station, killing 12 people and wounding hundreds of others.
Canada has issued a travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia, and avoid travel to King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the violence late Saturday evening, describing Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure as “abhorrent” and unjustified.
“Canada condemns these reckless acts of violence in the strongest possible terms,” the Prime Minister said in his social media post.
He added: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the dead and wish a full recovery for the wounded.”
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The airport remained closed on Sunday and flight tracking websites showed no air traffic around Riyadh on Sunday.
The latest strike in Riyadh came shortly after the Houthis blamed the Saudis for an attack on an airport in Sanaa, Yemen.
The attacks represent an escalation in the broader Iranian war in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was considering whether to join the fight against the Houthis, and said he planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand posted on social media on Saturday that she was in contact with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
She said she conveyed Canada’s “steadfast support for the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia.”
Jeffrey Steiner, president of the Canada-Saudi Business Council, said in an interview that it is important for Ottawa to condemn the violence and move to strengthen long-term relations with a key regional economic and security partner.
“It is a very horrific experience, for the families of those who were killed, and creates at least a short-term interruption or concern about safety and commercial activity,” he said.
He added: “We do not know how long this will last, but the Canadian government and Canadian diplomats have condemned the Houthis for this type of activity against civilian targets.”
The attacks come with the start of the World Oil Conference on Sunday in the Saudi capital.
Another major trade event, the Future Investment Initiative – a high-level investment summit sometimes called “Davos in the desert” – is scheduled for the end of the month.
Steiner said he and other Canadian companies still plan to attend this key business forum, which is tied to moving forward with Saudi Vision 2030 — an economic roadmap for the kingdom to attract investment and diversify its economy.
“We will have to monitor on a daily basis in the short term,” Steiner said.
“The long-term vision for 2030 has all kinds of opportunities for Canada to participate in that. Saudi Arabia wants to diversify its economy away from oil, and Canada wants to diversify its markets, in a way away from the United States, or at least to have broader markets and options.”
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne is expected to lead a delegation from Canadian pension funds in the coming months to Saudi Arabia to discuss investment opportunities.
—With files from The Associated Press
& Edition 2026 The Canadian Press
