Saudi Arabia's King Fahd International Airport came under attack for the second time in less than two weeks on Wednesday evening, leaving one resident dead and eight people injured in Dammam, a major aviation gateway on the kingdom's eastern coast.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed the casualties early Thursday, saying those wounded had been taken to hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The attack also damaged airport property, although authorities have not disclosed which facilities were struck or the extent of the destruction.

Flights were diverted away from Dammam overnight as the airport dealt with the incident. Saudi officials have not identified the weapon used or publicly established responsibility for the attack, and there has been no confirmed claim from Yemen's Houthis.

King Fahd International Airport had already been targeted on October 11. In its official statement following that incident, GACA announced safety inspections and damage assessments, warning that civilian aviation facilities were facing continued attacks.

Wednesday's fatalities come amid sustained pressure on Saudi Arabia's air defences. The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting drones over the kingdom's Eastern Province and other regions on October 21. Those interceptions have not been conclusively linked to the latest airport attack.

The renewed hostilities have severely disrupted passenger aviation. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has endured a succession of deadly strikes, including an October 11 attack on Terminal 4 that killed a Pakistani resident and wounded 11 others. An earlier attack on the capital's airport left more than 300 people injured and forced widespread flight cancellations.

Dammam's location gives the latest incident an additional economic dimension. The airport serves Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, home to some of the kingdom's largest oil and petrochemical operations. Nearby Dhahran houses Saudi Aramco's headquarters, where an October 13 attack damaged an administrative building and caused a limited fire.

The danger to civilian aviation has also prompted foreign governments to reconsider travel arrangements. The United States has maintained a Level 3 advisory for Saudi Arabia, warning of missile and drone attacks, including threats associated with Iran and the Houthis. American government employees require special authorisation to use airports in the kingdom.

Wednesday's attack coincided with another deadly incident at Saudi energy infrastructure. The Ministry of Energy reported that debris from an intercepted drone killed two foreign workers and injured two others at the Aramco-operated Shaybah oil field near the United Arab Emirates border. The ministry said production was unaffected.

Saudi authorities have not established any operational connection between the Shaybah incident and the attack in Dammam.

With one person dead and eight others receiving treatment, attention has turned to the safety of King Fahd International Airport and the status of its flights. GACA has yet to publish a comprehensive damage assessment or explain how the attack penetrated security around the facility.