Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector witnessed a significant growth in 2025, with passenger numbers at Saudi airports increasing by 9.6 percent, reaching a total of 140.9 million. The General Authority for Statistics revealed that international travelers contributed to 75.8 million of this figure, a 9.4 percent rise from the previous year, while domestic passengers accounted for 65.1 million, marking a 9.8 percent growth. This surge aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions to establish itself as a leading global aviation and tourism hub, following the Kingdom’s achievement of its initial target of 100 million tourists and setting a new goal of 150 million by 2030.
Despite the challenges posed by regional disruptions due to the Iran conflict, which led to airspace closures and flight cancellations across the Middle East, Saudi airports efficiently managed more than 12.1 million passengers during the period between Ramadan 1 and Shawwal 9, equivalent to February 18 to March 28. The General Authority of Civil Aviation reported these figures, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s resilience in maintaining smooth operations. King Abdulaziz International Airport emerged as the busiest in the Kingdom, accommodating 53.5 million passengers, an increase of 9 percent from the previous year, followed by King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, which saw 40.8 million and 13.7 million passengers, respectively.
In a notable statement during the 20th meeting of the Aviation Program Activation Steering Committee in Riyadh on May 15, GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej commended the sector’s adaptability in the face of global operational challenges through strategic contingency planning and enhanced airport capacity. The Kingdom also facilitated over 2,000 flights operated by neighboring countries’ carriers between February 28 and May 3, transporting more than 258,000 passengers, while ensuring a steady flow of air traffic.
The General Authority for Statistics further detailed that Saudi Arabia handled approximately 178,600 domestic and 207,700 international passengers daily in 2025. The total number of flights, both arriving and departing, reached 979,800, an 8.3 percent increase from the previous year. Among these, domestic flights numbered 506,300, representing a 6.8 percent rise, while international flights totaled 473,500, up by 9.9 percent. King Abdulaziz International Airport led with the highest flight count at 314,400, followed by King Khalid International Airport and King Fahd International Airport.
In terms of air cargo, the total volume reached 1.18 million tonnes in 2025, with inbound cargo making up 695,600 tonnes. The number of countries accessible through Saudi international airports increased to 66, while destinations served rose to 176. Saudi Arabia ranked 18th globally in the Global Air Connectivity Index 2025, a slight change from its 17th position in 2024. Saudia led in airspace utilization, accounting for 25.5 percent of total flights, with flynas and flyadeal following at 13.3 percent and 8.6 percent respectively.