Riyadh has become the main exit route as wealthy executives flee regional strikes/Representative Image

Riyadh has swiftly emerged as a primary evacuation hub for wealthy individuals and senior executives seeking to leave the Gulf, as missile and drone attacks disrupt cities once viewed as safe havens. According to Semafor, Saudi Arabia’s capital is now seen as the most viable departure point after strikes hit Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain over the weekend.For years, Dubai and Abu Dhabi had drawn high-net worth individuals with their tax-free regimes, sunshine and reputation for security. That sense of stability was shaken when Iranian missiles and drones targeted the region, prompting those with the means to look for immediate exit options. Riyadh’s airport is among the few in the region still operating, Semafor noted, forcing stranded executives and their families to undertake the 10-hour drive from Dubai to reach available flights.Private security firms have arranged fleets of SUVs to transport clients across the desert before chartering private aircraft out of the region, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Semafor. Those being evacuated include senior figures at global finance firms and wealthy individuals visiting for business or leisure. The surge in demand has driven up prices for both ground transport and private aviation.“Saudi Arabia is the only real option for people who want to get out of the region right now,” Ameerh Naran, chief executive of Vimana Private, told Semafor. He added that private jet flights from Riyadh to Europe are now costing up to $350,000.Semafor reported that security firms initially explored routing evacuations through Oman, but that option closed after Iran struck the country’s port and an oil tanker on Sunday. With alternatives narrowing, Riyadh became the safest route.The development marks a notable shift for a city that previously carried higher perceived risks. In earlier years, Houthi rocket attacks from Yemen frequently disrupted Saudi airspace. During past crises, including the Arab Spring and last year’s 12-day war between the US and Iran, affluent travellers typically exited through other cities. Saudi Arabia’s stricter religious environment and the memory of terror attacks in the early 2000s had also shaped perceptions.However, relaxed visa rules allowing many nationalities to obtain visas on arrival, combined with Riyadh’s open airspace, have strengthened its position. Ian McCaul, operations and future plans director at UK-based security firm Alma Risk, told Semafor that families, individuals and corporations are seeking to leave for safety reasons or to maintain business continuity.While rockets and drones have struck other cities, daily life in Riyadh has largely continued, reinforcing its new role as the region’s most reliable departure point.