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The Saudi Press Agency reported that a joint effort between Saudia and the Saudi Tourism Authority enabled the national carrier to transport around 27 million tourists and visitors from 24 countries throughout 2025. The figure highlights the airline’s central role in supporting the Kingdom’s efforts to expand its international visitor base. Khaled Tash, group chief marketing officer at Saudia, praised the cooperation for aligning with national goals to improve the overall travel experience for arriving passengers.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the partnership focused on coordinated marketing and operational measures that helped channel a significant share of inbound traffic through Saudia flights. Tash noted that the initiative contributed to smoother connectivity between key global markets and Saudi destinations. The report underscored how such collaboration has strengthened the integration of aviation and tourism sectors over the past year.
Separate Saudi Tourism Authority data places the Kingdom’s total inbound tourists at approximately 30 million for 2025, with associated spending exceeding 172 billion riyals. The authority has established a target of 150 million annual visitors by 2030 as part of the Vision 2030 framework. These benchmarks reflect sustained policy emphasis on infrastructure upgrades and international outreach programs.
Saudia expanded its international route network in recent years to cover additional destinations in Asia, Europe and Africa, facilitating access for diverse traveler groups. Official assessments indicate that fleet modernization and service enhancements have supported higher load factors on tourism-related routes. The carrier’s performance in 2025 also included strong on-time arrival rankings globally, according to Cirium aviation analytics.
The 27 million passengers carried by Saudia accounted for a substantial portion of overall international arrivals recorded last year. Government figures show the tourism sector has posted consistent annual gains since the expansion of visa programs and development of new attractions. This growth trajectory has positioned Saudi Arabia among leading emerging destinations in regional industry reports.
