Saudi Arabia Experiences Tourism Boom as Airlines Boost Riyadh Connections
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 tourism initiative is gaining momentum as major international carriers significantly expand their flight networks to the Kingdom. Recent announcements highlight the country’s rapid emergence as a premier Middle Eastern destination.
Delta Air Lines revealed plans to launch daily nonstop service from Atlanta to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport beginning May 2026, operating Airbus A350 widebody aircraft. This marks Delta’s first direct U.S. link to Saudi Arabia’s capital.
Simultaneously, Qatar Airways and Emirates have both ramped up operations, adding more flights to Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam to meet surging tourist demand.
The airline expansion coincides with major hospitality developments, including the recent debut of Rove Hotels in Riyadh. The Dubai-based lifestyle brand’s entry into the Saudi market represents part of the Kingdom’s strategy to develop world-class tourism infrastructure capable of hosting 100 million annual visitors by 2030.
Saudi Arabia recorded over 115 million visitors in 2024, exceeding tourism goals and demonstrating the success of liberalized visa policies and massive investments in tourism infrastructure. The country welcomed 30 million international tourists in 2024 alone, setting a new record.
- Popular destinations include Riyadh’s historic Diriyah UNESCO site, the futuristic NEOM development, and luxury Red Sea resorts.
- The aviation boom is being led by carriers including the new Riyadh Air, budget airline Flynas, and flag carrier Saudia, all expanding to support the Kingdom’s tourism transformation.