Saudi airports saw a notable rise in passenger traffic in 2025, with numbers climbing by 9.6 percent to a total of 140.9 million travelers, according to recent data. International passengers made up 75.8 million of this total, reflecting a 9.4 percent increase from the previous year, while domestic travelers reached 65.1 million, marking a 9.8 percent rise. This surge aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to establish the country as a global aviation and tourism hub through airport expansions, airline growth, and improved connectivity. The Kingdom has already surpassed its initial goal of attracting 100 million annual tourists and has increased its target to 150 million by 2030.
The growth in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector comes despite regional disturbances caused by conflict in Iran, leading to airspace closures and flight cancellations across the Middle East. During the period between Ramadan 1 and Shawwal 9, equivalent to February 18 to March 28, Saudi airports managed over 12.1 million passengers. King Abdulaziz International Airport was the busiest in the nation, handling 53.5 million passengers, a 9 percent increase from 2024. Following closely were King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with 40.8 million passengers, an 8.7 percent rise, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam with 13.7 million passengers, up 7 percent.
In 2025, Saudi airports managed an average daily traffic of 178,600 domestic and 207,700 international passengers, with total flights reaching 979,800, an 8.3 percent increase from the previous year. The domestic flight count was 506,300, marking a 6.8 percent rise, while international flights totaled 473,500, up 9.9 percent. King Abdulaziz International Airport led in the number of flights, followed by King Khalid International and King Fahd International Airports. Additionally, the total aircraft fleet for commercial and general aviation grew by 33.8 percent to 483 planes.
The Saudi air cargo sector also expanded in 2025, with total volumes reaching 1.18 million tonnes. Inbound cargo was most prevalent at 695,600 tonnes, followed by transit and outbound cargo. In terms of international connectivity, the Kingdom’s airports served 66 countries, a 1.5 percent increase from 2024, and offered flights to 176 destinations, a 2.3 percent rise. Saudia Airlines led in airspace utilization, with flynas and flyadeal following. The Kingdom ranked 18th on the Global Air Connectivity Index for 2025, slightly down from 17th in 2024.
During the 20th meeting of the Aviation Program Activation Steering Committee in Riyadh, GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej highlighted the Kingdom’s resilience in the face of global challenges. Saudi Arabia successfully integrated over 2,000 flights from neighboring countries between February 28 and May 3, accommodating more than 258,000 passengers while ensuring smooth air traffic. The expansion of airport capacity and strategic contingency planning have been central to maintaining the flow of air traffic despite regional disruptions.
