Prime Highlights
- Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector recorded strong growth in 2025, with passenger traffic exceeding 140 million, reflecting rising demand and improved connectivity.
- The sector’s expansion supports Vision 2030 goals by strengthening tourism, attracting investment, and boosting the Kingdom’s role as a regional aviation hub.
Key Facts
- Passenger traffic increased by around 9 percent in 2025, while the number of international destinations served by Saudi airports rose to 176.
- Saudi Arabia welcomed an estimated 122 million visitors during the year, moving closer to its target of attracting 150 million tourists annually.
Background:
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector posted strong growth in 2025, with passenger traffic surpassing 140 million, marking an increase of around 9 percent compared to the previous year, according to data released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
The figures were presented during the 19th meeting of the National Aviation Sector Strategy Activation Steering Committee held in Riyadh and chaired by GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej. The meeting reviewed sector performance and progress under the Kingdom’s broader transport and logistics transformation plans.
The rise in air travel was supported by strong tourism growth, with Saudi Arabia receiving about 122 million visitors in 2025. This moves the Kingdom closer to its Vision 2030 goal of attracting 150 million tourists each year and shows the growing role of aviation in supporting economic diversification.
Global connectivity also improved during the year, with the number of international destinations served by Saudi airports rising to 176. Saudi Arabia continued to operate three of the world’s busiest air routes, highlighting its rising role as both a regional and global aviation hub.
GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej said the sector’s strong performance was driven by solid institutional support and aligned policies, adding that aviation plays a central role in achieving Vision 2030 goals. He said competition and investment increased after the approval of new national airlines such as Riyadh Air and the Air Arabia alliance, along with licenses issued to major international companies including FedEx and Swissport.
The private aviation sector continued to grow, while national airlines helped build local expertise and improve operational and engineering efficiency across the industry.
Looking ahead to 2026, Al-Duailej said plans include expanding airport capacity, increasing private-sector participation, and launching more than 30 new routes. He stressed the need for strong operations and skilled national workers to ensure smooth travel for pilgrims.
GACA also announced that the fourth Future Aviation Forum will be held in Riyadh in April, bringing together global aviation leaders to discuss the industry’s future.
The committee reviewed progress on the Aviation Sector Activation Program, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
