Saudi Aramco clears Dhahran headquarters after surge in Houthi strikes

Saudi Arabia's state oil giant, Aramco, has instructed all staff to completely evacuate its headquarters in Dhahran, according to a report by AFP published by Gulf News. The energy producer ordered all remaining on-site personnel to switch to remote work immediately as attacks attributed to Yemen's Houthi movement escalate.

The move follows a strike that hit the headquarters complex last week. After that incident, the majority of employees had already shifted to working from home, leaving only critical personnel physically present at the facilities. The latest order removes those remaining workers from the site as a safety precaution until further notice.

Dhahran, situated in the kingdom's Eastern Province, serves as the primary operational and administrative hub for Aramco, one of the biggest petroleum producers globally. The decision to empty the central office complex reflects intensifying security concerns across the region regarding the protection of key energy assets.

Company officials have not publicly stated how long staff will be required to operate remotely. It also remains unclear whether the full site evacuation will cause disruptions to Aramco's day-to-day operations or overall production.

The evacuation comes during a period of high alert for vital infrastructure throughout Saudi Arabia, driven by an uptick in cross-border strikes linked to the conflict with Houthi forces. Authorities and energy executives have focused heavily on maintaining operational continuity through remote protocols while reducing physical risks to employees at vulnerable sites.