Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector achieved a massive milestone in 2025 as total passenger traffic surpassed 140 million travelers, with this impressive figure representing a 9% increase compared to the previous year, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
The National Aviation Sector Strategy Activation Steering Committee reviewed these latest growth figures during their 19th meeting in Riyadh. GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej chaired the session, where officials highlighted how aviation serves as a primary engine for economic diversification.
Furthermore, the Kingdom welcomed approximately 122 million visitors throughout 2025, proving that the nation is rapidly approaching its Vision 2030 goals, as the government aims to attract 150 million annual tourists by the end of the decade to boost non-oil revenue streams.
Expanding Global Footprints
Consequently, the Kingdom expanded its international reach by increasing the total number of global destinations to 176 unique flight locations. Saudi Arabia also maintained its dominance in the region by hosting three of the busiest air travel routes in the world.
Al-Duailej attributed this historic performance to the continuous support of the Saudi leadership while emphasizing aviation’s role as a vital enabler. He noted that the approval of new national carriers like Riyadh Air has significantly strengthened the local competitive environment recently.
In addition to new airlines, the government granted licenses to major international logistics and ground handling firms, including FedEx and Swissport. The private sector now enjoys greater empowerment as national airlines focus on localizing the industry and improving overall engineering efficiency.
Looking ahead, Al-Duailej outlined a comprehensive roadmap for 2026 that prioritizes airport development and a massive increase in passenger capacity. The upcoming strategy includes the launch of 30 new flight routes to connect the Kingdom with even more global hubs.
Preparing for the Future
“We must harness our national talent to serve pilgrims and deliver a seamless, spiritually enriching travel experience for every visitor,” Al-Duailej stated. He also announced that Riyadh will host the fourth edition of the Future Aviation Forum this coming April.
The International Civil Aviation Organization has officially endorsed this forum as a premier platform for shaping the global future of flight. Ultimately, the Saudi Aviation Sector Activation Program intends to transform the Kingdom into a logistics hub connecting three different continents.
