6 May 2025 (Jeddah) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released the Value of Air Transport study for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at IATA Aviation Day MENA. The report quantifies the substantial benefits that aviation (including aviation-related tourism) generates in terms of jobs and economic activity in the Kingdom. Highlights from 2023 data show that aviation supports and facilitates:   

• USD 90.6 billion of economic activity (total impact including wider supply chain, employee spending, and tourism activities), equal to 8.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• 1.4 million jobs (total impact including wider supply chain, employee spending, and tourism activities), 62,000 of which are directly employed by airlines
• 713,600 tonnes of air cargo

“Aviation is a catalyst for economic and social development. Saudi Arabia has understood this and is using connectivity as a key element of its national economic strategy under Vision 2030. Already, aviation supports 1.4 million jobs and 8.5% of the Kingdom’s GDP. This contributes substantially to the Kingdom’s prosperity today, and that will grow with investments, including those for infrastructure and talent development.  Continued prioritization of aviation as a strategic sector supported by global standards, competitive costs and smart regulation will enhance Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness, economic performance, and social development,” said Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East.

Key priorities for Saudi Arabia

To continue generating benefits from aviation, IATA outlines three key priorities for Saudi Arabia:

• Collaboration and Global Standards: Given Saudi Arabia’s important role in shaping regional aviation policies, continued collaboration and consultation with users and stakeholders, along with alignment to global standards and best practices, are vital.
• Infrastructure: As Saudi Arabia makes significant investments in airport infrastructure and digitalization, it is critical to work with the industry to ensure cost competitiveness.
• Capacity-Building: Ensuring a skilled workforce across all areas of aviation will enable the Kingdom to fulfill its potential as a regional and global aviation hub. IATA has recently signed agreements with Saudi partners to provide skills training for over 1,000 aviation graduates and employees.