Saudi Airports Handle 141 Million Passengers in 2025 as Aircraft Fleet Expands

Travelers move through stanchion lines at the departure terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. (AFP)
Travelers move through stanchion lines at the departure terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. (AFP)
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Saudi Airports Handle 141 Million Passengers in 2025 as Aircraft Fleet Expands

Travelers move through stanchion lines at the departure terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. (AFP)
Travelers move through stanchion lines at the departure terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia’s airports handled 140.9 million passengers in 2025, marking another year of strong growth for the Kingdom’s aviation sector as the national aircraft fleet expanded by 33.8%, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics.

The number of passengers traveling through Saudi airports rose 9.6% from 2024, reflecting the Kingdom’s accelerating push to strengthen its position as a regional travel hub and global aviation gateway.

International traffic accounted for 75.8 million passengers, up 9.4% year-on-year, while domestic passenger traffic increased 9.8% to 65.1 million. On average, Saudi airports handled around 207,700 international passengers and 178,600 domestic passengers a day.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah remained the Kingdom’s busiest airport, handling 53.5 million passengers during the year, an increase of 9.0% from 2024. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh followed with 40.8 million passengers, up 8.7%, while King Fahd International Airport in Dammam handled 13.7 million passengers, posting annual growth of 7.0%.

The increase in passenger traffic was accompanied by a rise in flight activity across the Kingdom’s airports. Total arriving and departing flights climbed 8.3% year-on-year to 979,800 flights in 2025, including 506,300 domestic flights, up 6.8%, and 473,500 international flights, up 9.9%.

King Abdulaziz International Airport also recorded the highest number of aircraft movements with 314,400 flights, followed by King Khalid International Airport with 296,800 flights and King Fahd International Airport with 108,500 flights.

Saudi Arabia’s aviation fleet recorded one of the strongest areas of growth during the year, with the total number of commercial and general aviation aircraft rising to 483 from the previous year’s level. The fleet included 266 commercial aircraft and 217 aircraft dedicated to general aviation.

Aircraft with capacities ranging from 151 to 250 seats accounted for the largest share of the commercial fleet at 120 aircraft, while the sector continued to modernize its operations, with 99 aircraft less than five years old.

The Kingdom also expanded its global air connectivity during 2025, with Saudi airports linked to 66 countries worldwide, up 1.5% from a year earlier. The total number of domestic and international destinations connected to the Kingdom rose 2.3% to 176 destinations.

Saudi Arabia ranked 18th globally in the 2025 Air Connectivity Index, underscoring the sector’s growing international reach.

Saudia accounted for the largest share of flights operating in Saudi airspace at 25.5%, followed by low-cost carrier flynas at 13.3% and flyadeal at 8.6%.

Air cargo volumes handled through Saudi airports totaled 1.18 million metric tons in 2025, with imports accounting for the largest share at 695,600 tons. Transit cargo reached nearly 420,100 tons, while exports exceeded 69,700 tons.

March recorded the highest monthly cargo throughput of the year, with more than 113,400 tons handled during the month.

The Kingdom also continued to expand logistics infrastructure at its main airports to support cargo growth and broader supply chain ambitions. King Fahd International Airport operated nine cargo facilities, while King Khalid International Airport had eight facilities and King Abdulaziz International Airport operated four integrated cargo facilities.

The expansion forms part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to position itself as a global logistics hub linking Asia, Africa and Europe.



Saudi Industry Minister Says Kazakhstan Is a Trusted Partner in Critical Minerals

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said Kazakhstan is a trusted partner in the critical minerals sector. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said Kazakhstan is a trusted partner in the critical minerals sector. (SPA)
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Saudi Industry Minister Says Kazakhstan Is a Trusted Partner in Critical Minerals

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said Kazakhstan is a trusted partner in the critical minerals sector. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said Kazakhstan is a trusted partner in the critical minerals sector. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef said Kazakhstan is a trusted partner in the critical minerals sector, which is essential for energy transition, electricity, and advanced manufacturing industries.

He noted that mining partnerships between the two countries contribute to accelerating investment, strengthening supply chains, and creating sustainable industrial value, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The remarks were made during a high-level panel discussion on global partnerships and the future of the mining and minerals sector, held as part of the Astana Mining and Metallurgy Congress in Kazakhstan. Government officials and industry leaders from around the world participated in the meeting.

The minister added that Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan share similar economic and industrial ambitions, as well as a common vision of the importance of developing the mining sector and its role in supporting economic diversification, enhancing industrial resilience, and achieving sustainable growth.


IMF Cuts 2026 Euro Zone Growth Forecast with Higher Inflation

FILE PHOTO: Dark clouds are seen over the building of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, June 6, 2024. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Dark clouds are seen over the building of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, June 6, 2024. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo
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IMF Cuts 2026 Euro Zone Growth Forecast with Higher Inflation

FILE PHOTO: Dark clouds are seen over the building of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, June 6, 2024. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Dark clouds are seen over the building of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, June 6, 2024. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File Photo

The International Monetary Fund cut its growth forecast for the euro zone on Thursday and raised its expectation for inflation because of the US-Israeli war on Iran, adding that the economic situation could worsen if high energy prices persisted.

In its regular report on the economy of the 21 countries that share the euro currency, the IMF said economic growth this year would be 0.9%, down from ⁠1.1% forecast in ⁠April while inflation would be 2.8%, up from 2.6% forecast in April.

The IMF's had already revised down its euro zone growth forecast in April from its January prediction.

"Following a period of growth at potential and inflation on target, the euro area outlook has weakened," the IMF said in a report presented to ⁠euro zone finance ministers, referring to the war in the Middle East as a "large but temporary adverse supply shock."

"An even more persistent energy shock could raise inflation and inflation expectations further, even as a drop in confidence or financial stress could weaken demand. A resurgence of the conflict in the Middle East or delays in repairing energy infrastructure, intensified hostilities in Ukraine, and further trade policy adjustments pose additional downside risks," Reuters quoted it as saying.

The IMF said the European Central Bank, which earlier on Thursday raised interest rates for ⁠the first ⁠time in nearly three years, was likely to raise rates again for a cumulative 50 basis points increase in 2026, with a third rate rise also possible.

The IMF warned euro zone finance ministers against rushing to cushion their economies against the impact of high energy costs. "Broad-based fiscal support is not warranted," it said.

Many euro zone members had already introduced measures, averaging around 0.1 percent of GDP across the EU on a GDP-weighted basis as of May 2026.

It said, despite their limited scale so far, the measures likely blunted incentives for energy conservation and that future measures should targeted more to protect vulnerable households.


Egypt Signs Deal to Transfer Shares in Wataniya 172 Fuel Stations to Taqa Arabia

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Reuters file photo
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Reuters file photo
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Egypt Signs Deal to Transfer Shares in Wataniya 172 Fuel Stations to Taqa Arabia

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Reuters file photo
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Reuters file photo

Egypt signed an agreement on Thursday with Taqa Arabia to transfer ownership of a stake in 172 state-owned Wataniya fuel stations through a newly established company, Quick Fuel, according to a ⁠cabinet statement.

Under the ⁠agreement, Taqa Arabia will acquire a 10% stake in Quick Fuel and will also have ⁠the option to acquire an additional 15% stake when the company is listed on the Egyptian stock exchange, Reuters reported.

Egypt said last year it would offer stakes in military-owned companies, which included Wataniya Petroleum, through ⁠its ⁠sovereign wealth fund.

The IMF has made increasing the role of the private sector in the economy a requirement for Egypt's $8 billion loan program.