The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington, D.C., announced its temporary closure on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, as a precautionary measure due to a severe snowstorm affecting the region. In an official statement published on its X platform, the embassy urged Saudi citizens in the United States to exercise extreme caution and strictly adhere to instructions issued by local authorities to ensure their safety.
The general context of the decision and weather conditions
This decision comes in response to weather warnings issued by the U.S. National Weather Service, which predicted heavy snowfall, strong winds, and a sharp drop in temperatures in Washington, D.C., and several states along the East Coast. These winter storms, sometimes called "Nor'easters," are a recurring weather phenomenon in this region during the winter months and often cause transportation disruptions and the closure of government and private institutions and schools for public safety. The closure of embassies and diplomatic missions is a routine procedure in such emergency situations, in line with measures taken by the U.S. federal government.
The importance of the decision and its impact on the Saudi community
The embassy's decision is of paramount importance to ensuring the safety of its staff and the citizens it serves. While routine consular services, such as visa issuance, passport renewals, and other official transactions, have been suspended, the embassy has affirmed its continued support for emergency situations. It has provided a number of telephone numbers for direct contact in cases requiring urgent intervention, reflecting its commitment to providing necessary assistance to the Saudi community, which includes a large number of students, residents, and visitors in the United States. This measure demonstrates the preparedness of Saudi diplomatic missions to deal with crises and natural disasters, and their prioritization of the safety of their citizens.
A call for compliance and the provision of emergency numbers
In its statement, the embassy reiterated the importance of citizens monitoring weather forecasts issued by official sources and avoiding unnecessary travel during the storm. For emergency contact, the embassy provided the following numbers:
The embassy is expected to resume normal operations as soon as weather conditions improve and local authorities permit it.
