Saudi Arabia Takes The Lead As The Host Nation For Routes World 2026, Paving The Way For Future Growth And Innovation In Global Aviation Networks

Published on September 9, 2025

Saudi Arabia has been selected arsenic nan big federation for Routes World 2026, a prestigious arena that will style nan early of world aviation networks. This announcement marks a important measurement guardant for nan Kingdom arsenic it continues to fortify its position arsenic a world aviation hub. The arena will supply a level for cardinal manufacture players to research caller opportunities, foster innovation, and heighten connectivity crossed regions, driving maturation and translator successful nan aviation sector.

Saudi Arabia has been chosen to big nan 31st World Route Development Forum (Routes World 2026), a prestigious world arena shaping nan early of aerial connectivity.

The forum will beryllium overseen by nan General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), pinch strategical collaboration from nan Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) arsenic nan tourism partner, nan Air Connectivity Program (ACP) arsenic nan aerial connectivity partner, Matarat Holding arsenic nan airdrome partner, and Tahaluf organizing nan event.

Routes World serves arsenic nan premier world level for aviation professionals, wherever airlines, airports, tourism bodies, and different stakeholders stitchery to strategize and discuss nan early of aerial services. The arena annually attracts thousands of manufacture decision-makers, fueling world connectivity and enhancing world tourism and travel.

Riyadh’s action arsenic nan big metropolis underscores Saudi Arabia’s accelerated advancement toward becoming a starring aviation hub and a apical world tourism destination, aligned pinch its Vision 2030 goals. In 2024, Saudi Arabia’s aviation assemblage achieved record-breaking growth, pinch complete 128 cardinal passengers passing done nan Kingdom’s airports. This marked a 15% year-on-year summation and a 25% emergence compared to pre-pandemic figures, indicating a afloat betterment from nan pandemic’s impact. The momentum continued into nan first half of 2025, pinch Saudi airports handling 66.7 cardinal passengers, 467,000 flights, and 575,000 tons of cargo, solidifying nan Kingdom’s position arsenic 1 of nan fastest-growing aviation markets worldwide.

“Hosting Routes World 2026 is simply a awesome milestone successful our travel to position Riyadh and nan Kingdom arsenic a cardinal hub for world aviation. The determination endorses Saudi Arabia’s move aviation growth, infrastructure finance programme, and eager Vision 2030 tourism and economical maturation agenda,” said GACA President and Chairman of Matarat Holding, His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of nan Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Saudi is not conscionable welcoming nan world, we’re connecting it. Our emergence arsenic a world leader successful tourism and aviation is opening doors betwixt people, places, and opportunities for illustration ne'er before. The recreation and tourism manufacture are increasing astatine a gait nan world has ne'er seen – pinch Saudi welcoming 116 cardinal visitors successful 2024, a 6% summation from 2023. Strong aerial links are nan lifeblood of that growth, and by hosting Routes World 2026, Saudi will play a captious domiciled successful ensuring that from Riyadh to each area of nan globe, nan world is wrong reach.”

“The Air Connectivity Program (ACP) is proud to beryllium an charismatic Air Connectivity Partner for Routes World 2026 successful Riyadh, nan world’s astir important aerial connectivity conference. Hosting specified a prestigious arena successful Saudi Arabia is simply a testament to our committedness to nan maturation of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and aviation sectors. This arena straight aligns pinch nan bold ambitions of nan Saudi National Tourism Strategy and nan Aviation Program, and we look guardant to showcasing nan unthinkable opportunities that dishonesty up for aerial recreation successful KSA,” said Majid Khan, CEO of ACP.

Steven Small, managing head of Routes, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism assemblage has demonstrated bonzer growth, pinch world visitant spending reaching $40.95 cardinal successful 2024. This singular performance, coupled pinch nan country’s strategical location and modern aviation infrastructure, makes Riyadh an perfect big for Routes World 2026.”

Looking ahead, Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport (KSIA) is group to grip 120 cardinal passengers by 2030, pinch projections reaching 185 cardinal by 2050. Meanwhile, King Abdulaziz International Airport successful Jeddah is undergoing a important description , expanding its capacity from 50 cardinal passengers coming to betwixt 80 and 114 cardinal by 2030, and reaching 100 cardinal by 2035. These developments are portion of Saudi Arabia’s broader finance successful aviation infrastructure, which includes nan upcoming motorboat of Riyadh Air by nan extremity of 2025, pinch plans to service complete 100 world destinations.

Saudi Arabia will big Routes World 2026, a pivotal arena group to reshape world aviation networks. As a starring hub for invention and connectivity, nan Kingdom’s action underscores its increasing power successful nan aviation industry. The arena will foster caller opportunities, driving maturation and advancing nan early of world travel.

Riyadh’s successful bids for hosting World Expo 2030 and nan FIFA World Cup 2034 bespeak increasing world assurance successful nan city’s expertise to big premier world events. As Saudi Arabia prepares to big Routes World 2026, it solidifies its position arsenic a cardinal world hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.