RIYADH, 23 March 2003 — While the US Embassy in Riyadh and the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran remained closed yesterday out of security concerns over the war in Iraq, the British Embassy was functioning normally.
The US Embassy’s temporary closure marked heightened security, particularly in the Diplomatic Quarter, where armed police patrols checked visitors. Western expatriates maintained a low profile in line with their embassies’ advisory.
In a statement issued here, the US Embassy said the mission dependents remained at home yesterday, giving their children respite for a day. The measure was taken to enable the embassy and the consulates to take stock of the security situation in the Kingdom. However, after-hours emergency services to American citizens will continue.
The mission warned American citizens that the war in Iraq could disrupt air services temporarily. “Depending on the international air carriers’ and insurers’ assessment of the risks of flying commercial aircraft into and out of the Kingdom, this disruption may last up to several weeks.”
About 30,000 to 40,000 Americans and around 30,000 Britons reside in the Kingdom, many in the oil-rich Eastern Province.
Yesterday, despite their large presence, they stayed off the roads and shopping centers as well as bookstores. Inquiries with some compounds revealed that the Western expatriates remained confined to their villas, having already provided for their shopping needs before the start of the war.
On the other hand, Kuwaitis shopped in large numbers with their families, a spokesman of Euromarche, told Arab News.
In another development, the Saudi British Bank reassured its customers that it was paying close attention to its security arrangements. “In this regard, we are closely working with the local authorities and are monitoring the developments arising out of the current scenario to ensure the safety of all our customers, premises and staff.”
The bank said it was committed to “maintaining effective customer service and contingency plans to address the perceived risks associated with the current scenario. The plans drawn up are from our experience of 1991 Gulf War, such as sufficient liquidity and reserves of local, foreign currencies and business recovery plans to address the possibility of disruption of any system.”
