# Drone shot down near Makkah: what Pakistani Umrah pilgrims should know Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/world/drone-shot-down-near-makkah-what-pakistani-umrah-pilgrims-should-know) Type: News article Author: Searchable Editorial Published: 16 Sept 2026 Updated: 16 Sept 2026 Retrieved: 16 Sept 2026 > Saudi defences destroyed a drone south of Makkah on Tuesday evening. Pilgrimage operations were not disrupted. Here is what happened, how Pakistan responded, and what to check before you travel. Saudi air defences destroyed a drone south of Makkah at 6:50pm Saudi time on Tuesday, 15 September, before it entered the city's restricted airspace. Saudi Arabia blamed Yemen's Houthis, who denied targeting the holy city. The Saudi-led coalition reported no damage or injuries, and no disruption to the Grand Mosque or pilgrimage operations. ## What happened - **Where:** south of Makkah, before the drone reached restricted airspace. - **Who said what:** Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, called the safety of the two holy mosques and pilgrims "a red line". A Houthi military source called the Saudi account misinformation. - **Alerts:** Al Jazeera reported that security alerts sounded in Makkah, Taif and Jeddah and were lifted within minutes. Al Jazeera said it was the first such alert in Makkah since 2017. That year, according to Arab News, a ballistic missile was intercepted over Taif province. - **The wider week:** Arab News reported 13 civilians injured by ballistic missiles in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif on Monday, more than 70 injured across the kingdom the week before, and the East-West oil pipeline shut down temporarily after drone attacks on Friday. ## Pakistan's response Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the "dastardly and heinous" attempt and said Pakistan stands "shoulder to shoulder" with Saudi Arabia. He also asked all parties to "exercise maximum restraint". Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye recently signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. The ISPR chief said this week that the pact is defensive and has no regional aspirations. Pakistan's statements included no travel guidance for citizens in Saudi Arabia. ## Other advisories On 16 September the United States told its citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia. It cited the risk of drone and missile attacks and warned against any travel near the Yemen border. That advisory is for Americans. We found no similar advisory from Pakistan's government. ## If you are going for Umrah or work 1. **Nothing has been cancelled.** Saudi authorities reported no change to pilgrimage operations. Confirm your flight and hotel with your Umrah operator 48 hours before departure. 2. **Follow local alerts.** If a warning sounds in Makkah, Jeddah or Taif, follow the instructions of Saudi security staff and stay indoors until it is lifted. 3. **Keep contacts ready.** Save the numbers of your operator's Saudi representative and of Pakistan's consulate in Jeddah or embassy in Riyadh, taken from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. 4. **Check your insurance.** Ask whether your travel policy covers disruption caused by conflict. Many policies exclude it. 5. **Budget in riyals.** The riyal stands at Rs 74.06 on our [SAR to PKR page](/data/sar-pkr). Use the [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter) to plan your spending. ## Why it matters at home Attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure are pushing crude up, and that feeds straight into Pakistan's fuel bill. Brent was near $106 this week with the Saudi pipeline shut, as we [reported here](/news/world/brent-near-dollar106-as-saudi-pipeline-stays-shut-what-it-means-for-petrol-in-pa). Petrol is Rs 384.34 a litre; follow it on our [petrol price page](/data/petrol-price). ## Frequently asked questions **Has Umrah been suspended after the Makkah drone incident?** No. Saudi authorities reported no damage and no disruption to the Grand Mosque or pilgrimage operations after the drone was destroyed on 15 September 2026. Confirm your travel plans with your Umrah operator before you leave. ## Sources - Houthi drone destroyed before entering Makkah's airspace, Saudi Arabia says (Arab News): https://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/houthi-drone-destroyed-before-entering-makkahs-airspace-saudi-arabia-says-3001874 - Saudi-led coalition intercepts Houthi drone headed for Mecca (Al Jazeera): https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/16/saudi-led-coalition-intercepts-drone-headed-for-mecca - PM condemns 'dastardly and heinous' attempted drone attack on Makkah (The Express Tribune): https://tribune.com.pk/story/2629600/pm-condemns-dastardly-and-heinous-attempted-drone-attack-on-makkah-reaffirms-support-for-saudi-arabia - Makkah defence pact is defensive, contains no 'regional aspirations', says ISPR chief (Geo News): https://www.geo.tv/latest/682279-makkah-defence-pact-is-defensive-contains-no-regional-asp - US issues advisory to 'reconsider travel' to Saudi Arabia (ARY News): https://arynews.tv/us-issues-advisory-reconsider-travel-saudi-arabia How to cite: "Drone shot down near Makkah: what Pakistani Umrah pilgrims should know", Searchable, 16 Sept 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/world/drone-shot-down-near-makkah-what-pakistani-umrah-pilgrims-should-know