Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector shattered expectations in 2025. According to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the Kingdom recorded more than 140 million passengers last year, marking roughly 9% growth and cementing one of the most dynamic aviation performance stories in the world. This explosive momentum comes as Saudi Arabia expands its global connectivity, boosts airline competition, and supercharges its strategic role as a gateway between Asia, Africa and Europe.
Record network expansion and busiest air routes
The Kingdom’s international network now boasts 176 global destinations, reflecting ambitious route diversification that’s connecting Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and other hubs to key cities across continents. Saudi Arabia continues to hold three of the world’s busiest air routes, a testament to its strategic geographic advantage and escalating travel demand between the Middle East, South Asia and Europe.
Leadership driving aviation growth
General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej revealed these landmark figures during the 19th Steering Committee meeting to activate the Aviation Program in Riyadh, underlining that this achievement is rooted in visionary leadership and the proactive implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, where aviation is a core pillar of economic diversification and global competitiveness.
Competitive ecosystem and new players
2025 saw the Kingdom turbocharge competition and attract critical foreign investment. This year the sector welcomed new national carriers, including Riyadh Air and the Air Arabia Alliance, signalling a seismic shift in the regional airline landscape. At the same time, global logistics and aviation service powerhouses like FedEx and Swissport received licenses to operate in Saudi Arabia, strengthening cargo networks and end-to-end service capabilities. Parallel reforms have also unlocked entrepreneurial participation in private aviation, diversifying services for high-net-worth, business and leisure travellers alike.
Bold plans for 2026
Looking ahead, GACA’s 2026 blueprint focuses on empowering the private sector to develop airports and boost capacity, targeting more than 30 new international routes across Africa, Europe, the U.S., South and Southeast Asia. This expansion is aligned with projected tourism demand, including business travel, leisure tourism and the rapidly growing pilgrim traffic tied to Hajj and Umrah seasons.
Al-Duailej stressed the importance of operational excellence and national workforce optimisation to deliver frictionless travel experiences for both pilgrims and global visitors, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as not just a destination, but a spiritual, cultural and commercial aviation hub.
Future aviation forum: Riyadh 2026
In a major industry milestone, GACA confirmed the official April launch of the 4th Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh, now formally endorsed by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This forum has quickly become a leading global platform shaping aviation’s future, promoting sustainability, innovation and multilateral aviation cooperation in line with the Kingdom’s ambitious strategic agenda.
Aviation program
Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Program, a cornerstone of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, is designed to transform the Kingdom into a global logistics hub connecting three continents, a world-class tourism and business destination, and a leading aviation centre in the Middle East. With bold public-private collaboration, robust infrastructure investment, and strategic airline partnerships, the Kingdom is rapidly reshaping the global aviation map.
