Skip to main content
Editorial Feature

Wings of Change: Saudi Arabia’s Journey to Global Aviation Leadership

By June 16, 2025No Comments

Saudi Arabia, host of this year’s Global Airports Forum in June, is poised to have its ambitious aviation transformation goals truly take off. Anchored by the national strategy of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is embarking on a complete overhaul of its aviation industry that extends to building wholly new airports while modernising existing ones, adopting cutting‑edge technologies across all airport infrastructure, and even positioning itself as a future global air travel hub.

Vision 2030: Turning Airports into Economic Engines

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasises economic diversification, notably via tourism and transport. With a strategic aviation vision as a core pillar of its transport and infrastructure plans, the country aims to handle 330 million annual air passengers and link 250 global destinations by 2030 while expanding air freight capacity to 4.5 million tonnes. These ambitious targets underscore how aviation is becoming a central consideration for Saudi Arabia’s long-term sustainable growth.

Massive Investments: More Than $100 Billion on the Table

Over the coming decade, Saudi Arabia plans to invest roughly $100 billion into aviation, with around half of that figure earmarked for airport infrastructure alone. These funds are catalysing major new projects that will accelerate the country’s readiness for the coveted title of regional and then global aviation hub.

King Salman International Airport (Riyadh): A Future Megahub

One of the centrepieces of the nationwide airport expansion and upgrading plan is the King Salman International Airport (KSIA). Designed to be among the world’s largest airports, this expansive undertaking has a projected size, scale and economic impact that any leading economy would be eager to secure.

Construction began in 2024, with commercial operations expected by 2030 – a testament to the seriousness with which the Saudi Government aims to support its Vision 2030 strategy.

  • Capacity: 120 million passengers annually by 2030 (scalable to 185 million by 2050) and 3.5 million tons of cargo.
  • Scale: Sprawling across 57 km² with six parallel runways, six passenger terminals, and a dedicated private aviation terminal.
  • Economic impact: Expected to generate over 100,000 jobs, contribute roughly SAR27 billion ($7.2 billion) annually, and support Riyadh’s aim of becoming a leading ‘global economy city’.
  • Tech-forward approach: KSIA is being built with AI, IoT, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and LEED‑Platinum sustainability standards.

Jeddah Airport City: Blended infrastructure brought to life

Construction began in 2023 on this $5 billion mixed-use transformation project, which blends airports, hotels, offices, retail, entertainment venues, and a 20,000-person arena spread across four quadrants. Set to complete by 2028, the main terminal will boast an annual passenger capacity of 30 million passengers rising to 80 million by the mid-2030s.

Regional Airports: Underpinning domestic and ME travel

While the largest international airports are often in the spotlight, Vision 2030 also requires that the aviation infrastructure across the entire country is fit for purpose and futureproofed to handle rising air travel demand. This has kickstarted a programme of major expansions and/or refitting projects across practically every sizeable airport nationwide.

  • Abha International: Currently undergoing a massive expansion – from 1.5 million to 13 million capacity, with upgrade works including biometric security, automated boarding, 20 new gates, and smart parking bays. Completion of these works is slated for the end of the decade.
  • Madinah Airport: Construction of a new terminal and other measures to drive up capacity 18 million annually. $275 million investment.
  • Al‑Ula International Airport: Expansion works began in 2023 – to boost capacity from 400,000 to 6 million passengers annually – making Al‑Ula a gateway for cultural tourism.
  • Red Sea International Airport: Opened with great fanfare in September 2023 to serve the luxury tourism segment. Steady expansion works mean the airport is predicted to reach 1 million annual passengers by 2030.
  • In total, Saudi Arabia operates 18 international airports with 148 international routes and 422,000 domestic flights. The continued expansion of its domestic and regional links will strengthen the air travel network further in the coming years.

Technology & Passenger Experience: Smarter, Faster, Greener

  • Biometric smart-gates: Implemented at NEOM Bay Airport – and now rolling out at Riyadh terminals 3 & 4 – passengers can use self-service biometric scanning for faster border processing.
  • Digital systems & robotics: AI-driven operations, IoT-driven check-ins, and autonomous services across terminals – especially in KSIA and Abha – are hallmarks of a smarter airport ecosystem that is capable of delivering a world-class air transport experience to domestic and international travellers alike. Leading industry brands like Global Airport Forum exhibitor Swissport are essential partners in delivering innovative technological advances to these airports. Swissport itself provides services for 5 different airports across the country.
  • Sustainability: Almost all Saudi major airport projects now aim for LEED certifications and the introduction of cleaner energy to their operational practices. Notable examples include KSIA’s LEED‑Platinum plan and green builds at KAIA and other regional airports.

Passenger Growth & Connectivity

Saudi’s passenger traffic is soaring:

A Wholesale Upgrade of a National Industry

Saudi Arabia’s aviation revolution is both bold and deliberate: enormous infrastructure meets transformative tech and sustainable design, enabling an unparalleled passenger experience. The spotlight is on a nation that’s no longer just expanding – it’s rewriting the rules of what a modern aviation hub should look like.