Just as Wizz Air announces its exit from Abu Dhabi, a new low-cost airline is preparing for take-off in the Middle East, promising to unlock a raft of new routes for regional travelers.
Saudi Arabia has officially granted an operating license to the yet-to-be-named budget carrier, which will be headquartered at King Fahd International Airport in the eastern city of Dammam.
The joint venture—backed by Sharjah-based Air Arabia, KUN Investment Holding, and Nesma—plans to serve 24 domestic and 57 international destinations by 2030, with the official route network set to be announced in the coming months.
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, the airline is targeting 10 million passengers a year by the end of the decade on a fleet of 45 aircraft.
The regulator said the move is part of a broader push to boost air connectivity in the kingdom’s Eastern Province, ramp up seat capacity, and offer travelers more affordable flight options across the region and beyond.
While a formal launch date has yet to be confirmed, the new carrier is Saudi Arabia’s second major airline debut in recent years, with Riyadh Air set for take-off later this year. Based out of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the new airline will open up more than 100 destinations by 2030, making it easier for travelers to fly directly between Saudi Arabia and major cities in Europe, Asia, and North America.
The new budget carrier will be Saudi Arabia’s second airline debut in recent years, with Riyadh Air scheduled to begin commercial flights by the end of 2025.
Courtesy Riyadh Air
Riyadh Air has already ordered dozens of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliners, which feature the largest windows of any jet currently in the skies, air that is more humid and pressurized at a lower cabin altitude, large overhead bins, and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride.
At the Paris Air Show in 2023, Riyadh Air revealed its official indigo theme, with striking lines inspired by the twisting canopies of traditional Bedouin tents and the elegant curves of Arabic calligraphy. The bold look features a sweeping cockpit window design, with the signature color palette contrasting against a light iridescent fuselage that reflects “purity and the future-focused vision of Saudi Arabia.”
The launch of Riyadh Air coincides with the construction of a futuristic new airport for Riyadh, which is set to be one of the largest in the world and will welcome more than 120 million passengers annually by the end of the decade.
This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller Middle East.