Saudi Aramco evacuated its headquarters in Dhahran after an alarm on Thursday and staff have been asked to work from home, according to people familiar with the situation.
The kingdom is on alert after a flurry of attacks from Yemen’s Houthis in recent weeks, including lethal strikes on Aramco operations. Two people died after the Shaybah oil field was targeted on Wednesday, and two more were killed at the airport in the eastern city of Dammam.
Aramco isn’t the only organization taking precautions. The US State Department has ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia because of the growing threat from Houthi attacks. The strikes raise questions about the kingdom’s appeal as a regional business hub.
The evacuation in Dhahran followed an alarm in the headquarters, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing security matters. The reason for the alarm wasn’t immediately known and it wasn’t clear how long employees would be asked to work remotely, they said.
Aramco and the Saudi Energy Ministry didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Houthis, which are allies of Tehran, have been in conflict with Riyadh since well before the US-Iran war began in February. They stepped up their attacks in October after Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched an offensive to recapture Houthi-held areas.
Last week, a tower in the headquarters compound of Aramco, the world’s biggest oil exporting company, was attacked by Houthi militants, damaging three floors and causing a fire.
The escalating strikes have prompted Saudi Arabia to postpone its flagship investment summit and led the UK to add defensive support to the kingdom. The Future Investment Initiative, which typically brings the titans of finance, energy and politics to Riyadh, will now be held in 2027.