# Brent tops $116, a six-month high, after Aramco evacuates its Dhahran headquarters

Business & Markets · 23 October 2026 · Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
URL: https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-23-brent-tops-116-a-six-month-high-after-aramco-evacuates-its-dhahran

> Brent crude rose above $116 a barrel, its highest since April, after Saudi Aramco cleared its Dhahran headquarters amid Houthi attacks and Iran claimed hits on ships near Hormuz.

Saudi Aramco ordered staff to leave its Dhahran headquarters and work remotely on 22 October, six people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, as reported by The New Arab. AFP, cited by Gulf News, said remaining essential staff were told to work from home "until further notice". The cause of an alarm that preceded the evacuation was not known, and Aramco did not respond to requests for comment. [1][2]

Most staff had been working remotely since a 13 October strike on the complex; Reuters sources described extensive damage, while the Saudi Energy Ministry said it caused only a "limited fire" and no casualties. Saudi authorities said a Houthi attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on 21 October killed two people and injured eight. There was no immediate sign that oil production or exports were disrupted. [1]

Brent rose about 4% to $113.13 on 22 October, a five-month high, and climbed to about $116 on 23 October, its highest since 30 April, putting it on course for a third straight weekly gain. US crude (WTI) traded above $100 a barrel. [3][4]

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed that seven vessels were hit or struck mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz; the Associated Press said it could not verify the claim. ING said its earlier forecast for Brent to average $80 a barrel in the fourth quarter was now out of reach. [3][5]

## Who was involved

- [Saudi Aramco](https://connectthedots.news/org/saudi-aramco): Ordered staff out of its Dhahran headquarters [1][2]
- [Houthis](https://connectthedots.news/org/houthis): Its attacks on Saudi targets preceded the evacuation [1]
- [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps](https://connectthedots.news/org/islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps): Claimed seven vessels hit or mined near Hormuz (unverified) [3][5]
- [Ministry of Energy (Saudi Arabia)](https://connectthedots.news/org/ministry-of-energy-saudi-arabia): Said the 13 Oct strike caused only a limited fire [1]
- [ING](https://connectthedots.news/org/ing): Said its $80 fourth-quarter Brent forecast was now unattainable [5]

## Linked stories

- Related to: [Deadly attack on Saudi airport in Dammam as US orders staff out of Saudi Arabia](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-21-deadly-attack-on-saudi-airport-in-dammam-as-us-orders-staff-out-of) (21 October 2026)
- Follow-up of: [Oil tops $110 after Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia's Shaybah field and Dammam airport](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-22-oil-tops-110-after-houthi-strikes-on-saudi-arabias-shaybah-field-and) (22 October 2026)
- Related to: [Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it hit seven ships near Hormuz and threatens US bases](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-22-irans-revolutionary-guard-says-it-hit-seven-ships-near-hormuz-and) (22 October 2026)
- Related to: [Japan's core inflation rises above the Bank of Japan's 2% target for the first time in nine months](https://connectthedots.news/event/2026-10-23-japans-core-inflation-rises-above-the-bank-of-japans-2-target-for-the) (23 October 2026)

## Sources

1. The New Arab, "Saudi Aramco evacuates HQ for first time since Yemen war resumed", 22 October 2026: https://www.newarab.com/news/saudi-aramco-evacuates-hq-first-time-yemen-war-resumed
2. Gulf News, "Saudi Aramco evacuates Dhahran headquarters, orders staff to work from home", 22 October 2026: https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-aramco-orders-full-evacuation-of-dhahran-headquarters-amid-houthi-attacks-1.500719958
3. CNBC, "Brent crude oil tops $116, a six-month high, as tensions swell in the Middle East", 23 October 2026: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/23/oil-price-brent-wti-iran-war-saudi-arabia.html
4. Investing.com, "Nasdaq posts worst day since June as AI financing worries batter risk sentiment", 22 October 2026: https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/us-stock-futures-fall-as-investors-weigh-tesla-meta-earnings-4964498
5. International Business Times, "Oil Prices Climb as Brent Tops $114 and WTI Holds Above $100 After Houthi Attacks Force Aramco to Evacuate HQ", 23 October 2026: https://www.ibtimes.com.au/oil-prices-rise-saudi-attacks-iran-tensions-1877275