A new report has revealed details regarding the backstage reaction to WWE Crown Jewel still being planned for Saudi Arabia, despite the ongoing safety and security warnings regarding travelling to the country.
Concerns and questions regarding WWE’s decision to press forward with plans to host Crown Jewel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia have completely overshadowed WWE’s matches and creative plans for the event, and rightfully so.
With attacks on both Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam leading to casualties, there is a massive call for WWE to put the safety of its talent and staff first and either postpone the event or announce a change of location somewhere in the United States.
While TKO CEO Ari Emanuel told FOX News on Friday that Crown Jewel is still planned for Riyadh, a new update from the US Embassy in Riyadh on Sunday advised citizens to “take extreme caution” if using airports in Saudi Arabia.
The statement reads:
SECURITY ALERT: U.S. MISSION TO SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 25, 2026
Effective October 23, 2026, the Department of State ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Saudi Arabia due to safety risks.
Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area.
U.S. government employees working in Saudi Arabia require special authorization from Chief of Mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia following recent missile and UAV attacks on airports in the Kingdom.
King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh announced a partial reopening as of October 25 for domestic flights and some international flights operated by national carriers. A limited number of flights normally based at RUH are operating out of Qassim-based Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz International Airport (ELQ).
Operations at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah (JED) are operational with some delays and cancellations.
Operations at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (DMM) are operational with some delays and cancellations.
U.S. citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations, and travel disruptions. Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia. We recommend checking your flight departure status directly with the airline and with the airport.
Has WWE’s stance changed following this latest security warning?
No, the event is still set for Riyadh on November 7 according to Fightful Select.
And that decision, unsurprisingly, is not one that is going down entirely well behind the scenes in WWE, as Fightful Select stated that they heard from a number of talent and staff in WWE that aren’t happy about the event still going ahead in Saudi Arabia.
WWE are reportedly in “constant communication” with their hosts regarding the event, but with talent and staff likely having to begin making their way to Riyadh in just over a week’s time, it’s seeming more and more unlikely that WWE will change their plans.
We will continue to provide more updates on the situation as they emerge.
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