Saudi Arabia's $83bn defence budget fails to stop Houthi airport attack

The attack on the kingdom's airport left at least 13 people dead and more than 300 injured, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of Riyadh's defence infrastructure and recent bilateral security arrangements. Despite allocating approximately $83 billion annually to defence spending, Saudi Arabia has struggled to fully contain threats from Houthi drone and missile strikes emanating from Yemen.

The assault marks another significant breach of Saudi Arabia's air defences, highlighting the persistent challenge posed by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The group has conducted numerous attacks on civilian and military targets across the kingdom since the onset of Yemen's civil war in 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition began its military intervention.

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in advanced air defence systems and established military partnerships aimed at bolstering regional security. The so-called Mecca Pact with Pakistan and Turkey was designed to strengthen collective defence capabilities. However, the airport attack suggests these measures have yet to provide the comprehensive protection sought by the kingdom.

Analysts point to the Houthis' evolving capabilities and the difficulty in countering relatively low-cost drone technology as key factors behind the continued breaches. The incident may prompt Saudi officials to reassess both their defence strategy and the tangible benefits of their security partnerships in the region.