An administrative building belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco sustained minor damage in an attempted attack on Riyadh on Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed, following reports that the Saudi-led coalition had intercepted missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement.
The ministry said falling shrapnel damaged the building but confirmed that no casualties had been reported.
“An administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco in Riyadh was subjected to an attempted attack today,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The incident resulted in falling shrapnel that caused minor damage to the building, with no injuries or fatalities reported, thankfully.”
Eyewitnesses told AFP that the affected building was located in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), one of Riyadh’s most prominent commercial and financial centres.
“Aramco tower in KAFD has been targeted, that’s the sure thing,” one witness said, while two others confirmed seeing damage to the skyscraper.
The incident followed an announcement by the Saudi-led coalition that it had intercepted missiles launched by the Houthis, although the ministry did not specify whether the damage resulted directly from those interceptions.
Saudi Aramco’s facilities have faced repeated attacks by Houthi forces in recent months, with oil tankers, refineries, storage installations and corporate buildings among the reported targets.
The latest incident comes amid renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which seized control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
A truce established in 2022 had helped suspend major fighting in the prolonged conflict, but its collapse in July was followed by renewed exchanges of attacks.
Since then, Houthi forces have targeted Saudi airports, energy facilities and military installations, while the Saudi-led coalition has continued operations against the group.
The King Abdullah Financial District, where the damaged Aramco building is located, is a centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification programme.
The district houses major Saudi corporations and international financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, alongside commercial developments, luxury retail establishments and public spaces.
The reported attack has again highlighted the vulnerability of major commercial and energy infrastructure amid the continuing regional conflict.