One official said air traffic to King Khalid International Airport had stopped. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
A Riyadh resident, Ahmed Sayed, told The Associated Press he heard at least two loud explosions that rocked the capital. The airport issued a terse alert telling passengers to check their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport.
The Houthis made no immediate statement on Saturday. The Saudi government-run Center for International Communication, which oversees foreign media in the kingdom, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
King Khalid International Airport has been targeted multiple times in the week since a Saudi-led coalition launched a major military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks, including one Wednesday that killed a Sudanese national.
Fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has escalated, with the Saudi-led coalition providing air support for government forces in an attempt to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea. The rebels' new position gave them better surveillance of shipping on a corridor that is a crucial alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
Though the Houthis have told the AP and others they are only targeting Saudi shipping as part of a blockade in retaliation for one imposed on them, concerns about wider attacks persist. The Houthis previously attacked other shipping after the war in Gaza began, calling it solidarity with Palestinians. A US bombing campaign ended that.
The Saudis have sought support from the US and other allies as their airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure have come under attack. On Friday, as he left the White House, President Donald Trump was asked about the attacks on the Riyadh airport and told reporters, "It's not good" and "I'm not happy." There has been no immediate sign of US military support.
Saudi authorities warned the public this week that "filming, publishing or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability."