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Saudi Arabia Attracts Airlines, Opens New Routes in 2024

A Saudi budget airline Flynas Airbus A320-200 plane flies over the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, south of Cairo, Egypt December 15, 2018. (Reuters)
A Saudi budget airline Flynas Airbus A320-200 plane flies over the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, south of Cairo, Egypt December 15, 2018. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Attracts Airlines, Opens New Routes in 2024

A Saudi budget airline Flynas Airbus A320-200 plane flies over the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, south of Cairo, Egypt December 15, 2018. (Reuters)
A Saudi budget airline Flynas Airbus A320-200 plane flies over the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, south of Cairo, Egypt December 15, 2018. (Reuters)

CEO of the Saudi Air Connectivity Program Majid Khan said the program has successfully attracted 12 new airlines, added 20 new destinations, and increased seating capacity by more than 1.5 million this year.

Speaking at the Routes Conference, underway in Bahrain from Oct. 6-8, Khan explained that the Air Connectivity Program is responsible for linking all 29 airports in Saudi Arabia. The program also serves as a central point to ensure the achievement of the Kingdom’s tourism goals, which include reaching 150 million tourists by 2030.

Khan emphasized the importance of developing sufficient direct flight capacity to Saudi Arabia to enable tourists worldwide to travel directly to the Kingdom, rather than via indirect routes.

Rashed Al-Shammari, Executive Vice President of Aviation Development at the Air Connectivity Program, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Routes Conference brings together key aviation stakeholders in Bahrain, adding that the Saudi participation highlights the Kingdom’s tourist destinations and the program’s role in linking the National Tourism Strategy with the National Aviation Strategy.

Al-Shammari noted that the program aims to create new direct air routes and enhance existing ones to connect Saudi Arabia to more than 250 destinations worldwide.

He pointed to over 100 scheduled meetings during the event with global aviation industry leaders to negotiate new partnerships and promote Saudi Arabia’s geographic location and role in the aviation sector.

Al-Shammari further stressed that adding new flights and expanding existing routes would support the regional growth of the tourism ecosystem.

Over the three-day conference, the program is showcasing services and opportunities to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s air connectivity, targeting key international markets.

Launched in 2021, the Air Connectivity Program aims to boost tourism in Saudi Arabia by boosting air links between the Kingdom and the world.

The program acts as the executive enabler of both the National Tourism Strategy and the National Aviation Strategy. It seeks to foster collaboration and build partnerships between key players in the public and private sectors in both tourism and aviation to elevate Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global destination.

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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
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FAO Aims for Key Outcomes at COP16 in Saudi Arabia

Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)
Preparations in the Saudi capital ahead of hosting the COP16 conference on combating desertification (from the “COP16” page on the X platform)

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that the organization will take an active role at COP16, the UN conference on combating desertification, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early December.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he expressed confidence that the conference—the first of its kind in the Middle East—would produce significant outcomes.

Elwaer’s comments came during a roundtable organized by FAO’s regional office in Cairo, attended by a select group of media representatives. The session focused on FAO’s participation in the upcoming conference and the importance of the Rio Trio —the integrated framework of the three major UN conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and desertification.

Fida Haddad, FAO’s Program Officer for Land Rehabilitation and Climate Change, highlighted the interconnectedness of the three conventions and noted that COP16 would place a strong emphasis on land and water rehabilitation and their sustainable management.

Haddad pointed out that approximately 90% of the Middle East is affected by arid conditions. Despite this, local communities and Arab governments have made notable progress in addressing desertification and drought. She also announced that, for the first time, FAO has successfully placed food systems on the COP16 agenda, enabling discussions on how land rehabilitation can enhance food supply chains and systems.

Elwaer underscored FAO’s central role in achieving the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): eradicating hunger. He emphasized that FAO actively engages in the UN conventions on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification, which collectively contribute to this mission.

FAO’s focus, according to Elwaer, is on transforming food and agricultural systems to become more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable, aiming for better production, nutrition, and livelihoods. He highlighted the organization’s success in integrating these priorities into the agendas of the three conventions and collaborating with host countries on joint initiatives.

He further noted that Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 is particularly significant for the region, which faces pressing challenges such as water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. The conference presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern nations to highlight these issues, explore solutions, and ensure their inclusion in global environmental discussions, not only at this event but in future COP sessions, he underlined.

Elwaer emphasized the growing global attention on desertification, as it is now impacting regions previously unaffected, such as southern Europe and parts of Latin America. These areas are witnessing alarming declines in arable land and forests, prompting them to seek lessons from the Arab world, which has developed resilience strategies to combat desertification over centuries.

FAO will have a strong presence at COP16, with two dedicated pavilions—one in the Blue Zone for official delegations and another in the Green Zone to engage civil society and conference participants, he said.

He added that in collaboration with Saudi Arabia and the UN, FAO will lead coordination on Food Day and Governance Day, scheduled for December 5 and 6, respectively. The organization will also participate in other specialized sessions throughout the conference.