In 2025, Saudi Arabia witnessed a notable increase in airport passenger numbers, reaching 140.9 million, as reported by the country’s General Authority for Statistics. This reflects a significant 9.6 percent rise compared to the previous year. International travelers comprised 75.8 million of this total, marking a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase, while domestic passengers accounted for 65.1 million, up by 9.8 percent. These figures emerge as the Kingdom continues to push forward with its ambitious Vision 2030, aiming to transform into a global hub for aviation and tourism through airport expansions and enhanced connectivity. After surpassing its initial target of 100 million annual tourists, Saudi Arabia has now set its sights on welcoming 150 million visitors by 2030.
The growth in Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector in 2025 occurred despite regional disturbances caused by the Iran conflict, which led to airspace closures and flight cancellations across the Middle East. Nonetheless, the Kingdom’s airports managed to handle over 12.1 million passengers during the period from February 18 to March 28. King Abdulaziz International Airport emerged as the busiest, with 53.5 million travelers, an increase of 9 percent from 2024. Following closely were King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which saw 40.8 million passengers, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam with 13.7 million, reflecting rises of 8.7 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s resilience in the face of global operational challenges during an aviation committee meeting in Riyadh on May 15. He noted that the country successfully managed over 2,000 flights from neighboring nations between February 28 and May 3, transporting more than 258,000 passengers while ensuring smooth air traffic. The latest statistics reveal that Saudi airports handled around 178,600 domestic and 207,700 international passengers daily throughout 2025, with a total of 979,800 flights, marking an 8.3 percent rise from the previous year.
The year 2025 also saw a significant expansion in the Kingdom’s aircraft fleet for commercial and general aviation, which grew by 33.8 percent to 483. Air cargo volume reached 1.18 million tonnes, with inbound cargo making up a substantial portion. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s international airports connected with 66 countries, a 1.5 percent increase from 2024, and served 176 destinations, a 2.3 percent rise. Saudia led in airspace utilization, followed by flynas and flyadeal, accounting for 25.5 percent, 13.3 percent, and 8.6 percent of total flights, respectively.
In terms of global rankings, Saudi Arabia held the 18th position on the Global Air Connectivity Index for 2025, a slight drop from 17th place in 2024. The Kingdom’s concerted efforts towards expanding its aviation infrastructure and enhancing connectivity are pivotal as it continues to pursue its Vision 2030 objectives, despite challenges posed by regional geopolitical tensions.