Saudi Arabia’s newest national airline, Riyadh Air, will begin direct flights to Pakistan in August 2026. The carrier opened bookings for its Pakistan routes on July 30.
The first service will link Riyadh and Islamabad starting August 14, 2026, with daily flights (seven per week). Four days later, on August 18, the airline will launch three weekly flights between Riyadh and Lahore. Both routes will be operated using modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Riyadh Air is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and forms a key part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan. The airline aims to become a major global player and plans to serve more than 100 international destinations by the end of the decade.
Pakistan is an important market for the new carrier because of the large number of Pakistani workers living in Saudi Arabia and the strong demand for travel linked to work, business, tourism, and religious visits such as Umrah and Hajj. The new flights are expected to give passengers more choices, improve connectivity, and support closer economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
Officials say the services will increase competition on Saudi-Pakistan routes and make travel more convenient for overseas Pakistanis and other travellers. The launch marks a significant expansion of Riyadh Air’s international network and strengthens air links between the two nations.