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866,000 tons of air cargo were handled at Saudi airports during the period from January to September 2025, including 567,000 tons of transportation and distribution goods and 299,000 tons of transit goods.
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Saudia Cargo has expanded its global network through key partnerships with TAM Group, WFS, Cainiao, China Cargo Airlines and FedEx – enhancing connectivity to e-commerce and manufacturing hubs.
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Special Economic Zones (SEZs), such as Riyadh’s Integrated Logistics Zone, have attracted major global tenants (Apple, SHEIN, Lenovo, and iHerb), strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role in the regional supply chain infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s air freight sector continues to surge, with 866,000 tonnes handled between January and September 2025 – a sign of the Kingdom’s growing influence as a global logistics hub. The General Civil Aviation Authority released the latest performance figures during the 18th Aviation Program Steering Committee meeting, underscoring the role of shipping in promoting Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS).
Of the total volume, 567,000 tons came from origin and destination cargo, while 299,000 tons were moved in transit – evidence of Saudi Arabia’s evolving position as a strategic transshipment point. Saudia Cargo’s expanding global footprint, driven by partnerships with TAM Group, WFS, Cainiao, China Airlines Freight, and FedEx, continues to connect the Kingdom to key e-commerce and manufacturing markets.
The announcement came alongside broader aviation growth data: 103.1 million passengers passed through Saudi airports during the same period, and total air traffic reached 713,000 – up 9 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Connectivity now extends to more than 170 destinations around the world.
Particular attention was paid to the air logistics zones, in particular the Riyadh Integrated Logistics Zone (SILZ), which included major global tenants such as Apple, SHEIN, Lenovo and iHerb. These special economic zones emerge as high-value points in the Kingdom’s strategy to capture regional e-commerce flows and accelerate supply chain integration.
The recent re-election of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to membership in the ICAO Council for the period 2026-2028, with 175 votes out of 184, also reflects international confidence in its growing position in the field of aviation – both in the passenger and cargo sectors.
The SteerCo meeting, chaired by Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Al-Duailej and hosted by Saudi Cargo CEO Louay Mashabi, also addressed the rise of charter and private aviation. It is worth noting that VistaJet became the first private foreign company licensed to operate domestic flights in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
As global attention turns to trade flexibility and air freight resilience, Saudi Arabia is positioning itself not just as a transit station – but as an important shipping gateway linking East and West.
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