( CNN ) -- Citing a continued improvement in the security climate in Saudi Arabia , the United States has authorized the return of all family members to U.S. diplomatic outposts in the oil-rich monarchy . At the same time , the U.S. State Department is recommending that Americans there continue to adopt security precautions in the Middle Eastern kingdom and `` keep a low profile . '' The directive , dated Thursday , is an update to a travel warning issued in February . The diplomatic posts in question include the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the U.S. consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran . The Eastern Province and Riyadh were singled out as areas where security has improved . `` The last major terrorist attack directed against foreign nationals was in 2007 . Significant measures since then by the Saudi government have greatly improved the security environment throughout the kingdom , '' the State Department travel warning said . The State Department emphasized that `` an ongoing security threat '' persists and citizens should consider risks of visiting the kingdom , where militants maintain a presence . American visitors should be careful to select living arrangements that have `` stringent security measures . '' `` There is an ongoing security threat due to the continued presence of terrorist groups , some affiliated with al Qaeda , who may target Western interests , housing compounds , hotels , shopping areas , and other facilities where Westerners congregate . These terrorist groups may employ a wide variety of tactics and also may target Saudi government facilities and economic/commercial targets within the kingdom , '' the department said .
The last major terror strike in Saudi Arabia occurred in 2011 . An ` ` ongoing security threat '' persists , U.S. State Department says . Americans need to keep a ` ` low . ''