Air Arabia to Launch New Saudi Low-Cost Airline from Dammam
The new budget carrier will be based in Dammam and aims to boost connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced that UAE-based budget airline Air Arabia has been selected to operate a new Saudi national low-cost airline, based at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The carrier will be launched in partnership with Egypt’s Nesma and Saudi Arabia’s Kun Investment Holding.
This move is part of the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 initiative to strengthen its aviation infrastructure, enhance air connectivity in the Eastern Province, and offer passengers more affordable travel options.
The airline is set to:
- Operate a fleet of 45 aircraft
- Create over 2,400 direct jobs
- Serve more than 80 destinations, including 24 domestic and 57 international routes
- Transport up to 10 million passengers annually
The initiative is aligned with Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a leading aviation hub in the region by the end of the decade.
GACA emphasized that this development will significantly increase seat capacity and air accessibility while promoting regional and global connectivity for Saudi Arabia.
