In a notable development for the Kingdom’s aviation and tourism sector, Saudi airports saw a 9.6 percent increase in passenger numbers in 2025, reaching a total of 140.9 million travelers. This growth aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative to establish itself as a global aviation and tourism hub. The data, released by the General Authority for Statistics, highlighted that international passengers comprised 75.8 million of the total, reflecting a 9.4 percent rise from the previous year, while domestic travel saw an increase to 65.1 million passengers, up 9.8 percent.
The promising figures emerge despite the challenges posed by regional disruptions due to the Iran conflict, which resulted in airspace closures and flight cancellations across parts of the Middle East. Nevertheless, Saudi airports managed to handle over 12.1 million passengers between February 18 and March 28, covering the period from Ramadan 1 to Shawwal 9. King Abdulaziz International Airport led the Kingdom’s airports in passenger traffic, welcoming 53.5 million passengers, a 9 percent rise from 2024. It was followed by King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with 40.8 million passengers, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam with 13.7 million passengers.
The aviation sector’s resilience was underscored by Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, during the 20th meeting of the Aviation Program Activation Steering Committee in Riyadh. He noted that the sector effectively navigated global operational challenges through strategic contingency planning and expanded airport capacity. Between February 28 and May 3, Saudi Arabia accommodated more than 2,000 flights from neighboring countries, transporting over 258,000 passengers seamlessly.
In 2025, Saudi Arabia witnessed an 8.3 percent increase in the total number of flights to 979,800, with domestic flights numbering 506,300, a 6.8 percent rise, and international flights totaling 473,500, up 9.9 percent. The report also indicated that King Abdulaziz International Airport handled the most flights at 314,400, followed closely by King Khalid and King Fahd airports. The aircraft fleet for commercial and general aviation expanded significantly to 483, a 33.8 percent growth, while air cargo volume reached 1.18 million tonnes, with inbound cargo leading the way.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s international airports connected to 66 countries, a 1.5 percent increase from 2024, and served 176 destinations, marking a 2.3 percent rise. In terms of airspace utilization, Saudia led with 25.5 percent of total flights, followed by flynas and flyadeal. Despite a slight drop in the Global Air Connectivity Index, ranking 18th compared to 17th in 2024, the Kingdom’s aviation sector continues to demonstrate robust growth and connectivity.