Tadawul Ends Trading Week in Red Amid Escalating Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

08:30 AM EDT, 10/22/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Saudi Exchange-traded shares plunged as the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi Group took center stage at the end of the trading week. At Thursday's close, the Tadawul All Share Index lost 2.32%. Out of 273 listings, 255 closed lower, with only 13 stocks in the green. Saudi Arabian regulators reported attacks that targeted the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi Arabian Oil Co.'s (SASE:2222), d/b/a Saudi Aramco's, Shaybah oil field. Both strikes caused casualties and injuries. In light of the developments, Aramco reportedly sent out an evacuation notice to its headquarters in Dhahran. Additionally, the US also reportedly sent out orders to diplomats to depart the region due to the attacks. Aramco shares closed 0.70% in the red. On the macro side, Saudi's September construction cost index grew 2.2% year over year, compared with a 2.3% rise a month prior. Month-over-month, costs were stable. "The CCI for the residential sector increased by 2.1% year-on-year. This increase was attributed to a 1.7% rise in the cost of basic materials, driven by a 3.5% increase in the prices of timber and joinery, as well as a 4.1% increase in the costs of renting equipment and machinery," the report said. "The CCI for the non-residential sector increased by 2.6% year-on-year. This increase was attributed to a 5.8% rise in the costs of renting equipment and machinery, driven by a 7.2% increase in the costs of renting equipment and machinery with an operator, a 2.0% increase in labor costs, and a 3.0% increase in energy costs." Meanwhile, in corporate news, Inmar Co. for Real Estate Development and Investment (SASE:9521) shares closed 4.55% higher after it entered into a one-year memorandum of understanding with the Public Investment Fund's Rua AlHaram AlMakki Co. for potential real estate development projects in Makkah.