Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the 31st edition of the Routes World conference, “Routes World 2026,” from October 18 to 20, 2026, under the sponsorship of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and in cooperation with the Saudi Tourism Authority, Matarat Holding Company and the Air Connectivity Program, organized by Tahaluf.
Routes World is the most prominent global event dedicated to the future of air transport routes around the world, bringing together airlines, airports, tourism bodies and various aviation stakeholders to discuss and plan the future of air transport services, in addition to attracting thousands of decision-makers in the aviation industry, which helps enhance global air connectivity and support the growth of tourism and international travel, according to the GACA website.
For his part, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of GACA and Chairman of Matarat Holding Company, explained that hosting Routes World 2026 represents a prominent milestone in the Kingdom's journey toward establishing its position as a global aviation hub linking Asia, Africa and Europe.
He stressed that the Saudi aviation sector is witnessing rapid growth, supported by infrastructure investment programs and ambitious goals under Saudi Vision 2030 in the fields of tourism and economic growth.
He said that Riyadh's hosting of this global event reflects the progress the Kingdom has made in establishing its position as an aviation hub and tourist destination, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030 and coinciding with the Kingdom's hosting of Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. He pointed to the Kingdom's ability to host major international events, which helps strengthen air connectivity for these major events.
In the same context, Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and board member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said that the Kingdom's hosting of this conference confirms its growing position as an important destination for tourism and air connectivity, as it seeks to build bridges of communication, open new horizons of opportunity and enhance cultural exchange.
He said that the Kingdom has recorded unprecedented growth in the tourism and travel sector, receiving more than 116 million tourists from around the world in 2024, an increase of 6% over the same period of 2023, and that air connectivity has played a key role in supporting this growth, leveraging the Kingdom's vital location at the heart of the world.
Majid Khan, Executive Director of the Air Connectivity Program, stressed that being the air connectivity partner in hosting Routes World 2026 in Riyadh embodies the program's commitment to supporting the growth of the tourism and aviation sectors.
He explained that holding the conference aligns directly with the national strategic ambitions for tourism and the aviation program, adding that the international conference will showcase the promising opportunities that the future of travel holds.
Steven Small, General Manager of Routes, stressed that Saudi Arabia's tourism sector has seen exceptional growth, with international visitor spending in the Kingdom reaching $40.95 billion in 2024, which, along with the Kingdom's strategic location and modern aviation infrastructure, makes it an ideal destination to host this event.
King Salman International Airport in Riyadh aims to receive 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million passengers by 2050, while King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is undergoing multi-phase expansions raising its capacity from about 50 million passengers currently to between 80 and 114 million passengers a year by 2030, reaching 100 million passengers by 2035.
Alongside these ambitious goals, the Kingdom is investing in new airlines and advanced infrastructure, including the anticipated launch of Riyadh Air by the end of 2025, which will serve more than 100 international destinations.
The Kingdom's air transport sector recorded record growth in 2024, with more than 128 million passengers passing through the Kingdom's airports, an increase of 15% compared with the previous year and 25% compared with pre-pandemic levels.
The record growth continued in the first half of 2025, as the Kingdom's airports received 66.7 million passengers on 467,000 flights and handled 575,000 tons of air cargo, strengthening the Kingdom's position as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world.
To view the post on the website of Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation, click here.
