Official statistics for 2025 revealed a significant leap and record growth in air traffic in Saudi Arabia, exceeding regional averages with a 9.6% increase in passenger numbers. These figures reinforce the Kingdom's position as one of the world's fastest-growing and most dynamic aviation markets, driven by a thriving tourism sector, a succession of international events, and a substantial expansion of its international air connectivity network.
Strategic context: Vision 2030 and the engine of growth
This achievement cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which stems from the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The Kingdom is striving to become a global logistics hub connecting three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe). Reaching this figure by 2025 is a strong indicator of progress toward achieving the Vision's objectives, which aim to reach 330 million passengers annually by 2030. This reflects the success of government policies in liberalizing the aviation sector and enhancing operational efficiency.
Numbers breakdown: Leaps in capacity and operation
The Kingdom's airports recorded approximately 140.9 million passengers, distributed as follows:
- 76 million international travelers: reflecting the Kingdom’s appeal as a tourist, religious and commercial destination.
- 65 million domestic passengers: This highlights the vitality of travel between the far-flung regions of the Kingdom.
This growth in passenger numbers coincided with a notable increase in aircraft traffic of 8.3%, bringing the total number of flights to approximately 980,400, a clear indication of the sector's sustained recovery and full recovery.
Hub airport performance: Jeddah and Riyadh lead the way
This growth was clearly reflected in the major airports operating at maximum capacity:
- King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah continued to lead the way, accounting for 38% of total passenger traffic and averaging 146,000 passengers daily. Notably, the airport exceeded its capacity by 107%, reflecting the significant influx of Umrah, Hajj, and tourism in the Makkah region.
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh: Recorded a strong performance with 29% of total passengers, averaging 112,000 passengers daily, keeping pace with the economic and entertainment activity in the capital.
- Madinah and Dammam airports have achieved historic leaps, with usage rates exceeding capacity by 137% and 112% respectively, which calls for accelerating existing expansion projects.
Air connectivity and international standing
Internationally, the Kingdom has successfully secured air connections to 176 international destinations with high frequency rates (52 or more flights per year), enhancing accessibility to the Kingdom from across the globe. The Kingdom has also established its prominence on some of the world's busiest air corridors; the Cairo-Jeddah route ranked second globally with 5.8 million seats, while the Dubai-Riyadh route ranked seventh globally with 4.5 million seats.
Air freight: the lifeblood of the economy
Alongside the growth in passenger traffic, the air cargo sector remained stable, reflecting the strength of supply chains, with cargo volume reaching 1.18 million tons. The three major airports (Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam) accounted for the largest share, underscoring the aviation sector's role as a key driver of economic growth and logistics, and a major contributor to non-oil exports.
In conclusion, these statistics confirm that 2025 was the year of “flying towards the top,” as the Kingdom was able to consolidate its role as a pivotal player in the international aviation sector, making its airports global gateways to the future.
