Saudi Arabia announces dedicated hotline for stranded GCC citizens
Stay in the know
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has just announced a dedicated hotline for stranded GCC citizens in the Kingdom to facilitate communication with GCC nationals and citizens stranded inside the Kingdom’s airports.
The number 992 (the unified number for the General Directorate of Passports) has been designated to prepare procedures for the reception and well-being of GCC nationals and citizens. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the Ministry of Interior has also stated that those stuck inside the airports also need to go see the operations department at the airport passport area (Jawazat).
وزارة الداخلية تخصص الرقم الموحد (992) وشعبة العمليات بجوازات المطارات لتواصل الأشقاء الخليجيين مواطني دول مجلس التعاون العالقين في مطارات المملكة. pic.twitter.com/O8c403PBFT
— وزارة الداخلية 🇸🇦 (@MOISaudiArabia) March 2, 2026
This comes after the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, approved, upon the proposal of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, to host all stranded GCC nationals and citizens at airports across the Kingdom, per Saudi Gazette.
The royal directive provides for receiving citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, and Qatar, who are currently stranded in Saudi airports and ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to host and accommodate them.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud instructed relevant authorities to facilitate all procedures required to welcome and honour them, and to provide every means of comfort and care until conditions are suitable for their safe return to their home countries. He also directed all competent entities to immediately implement the necessary measures to carry out the decision.
