Amid consistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels, the Kingdom Center skyscraper in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, told people employed in its offices to work from home. The management of the 99-story building, one of Saudi Arabia's tallest, made working from home "mandatory" with no reason given.
According to a report by AFP, the new order is effective immediately and will be in place until further notice, the building's management told tenants in an email. The move came after two drones were intercepted in the Riyadh area, a third over the Eastern Province, and two ballistic missiles in southern Saudi Arabia overnight.
The decision was made while the shopping center on the ground floor of the building will remain open for now. "Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice," building management said in the email obtained by AFP.
Although no specific reason was given for the decision, experts believe it is a precaution taken in view of the repeated attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Iran-aligned group has intensified its attacks on Saudi infrastructure in recent weeks.
The Kingdom Center houses important offices such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), wealth management company Merrill Lynch, and consulting giant McKinsey & Company. The move indicates the level of concern about security impacts in the Saudi capital.
This development underscores the importance of efforts to find a political solution to the war in Yemen and reduce regional tensions, as the ongoing conflict threatens the stability of the entire Middle East.
Source: AFP
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