With the latest aviation employment figures released this week by Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority, it’s timely to take a closer look at the evolving competition between neighbours Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, positioning itself as a regional powerhouse to rival the well-established aviation hub of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). With major investments in infrastructure, airline expansion, and workforce development, the Kingdom is rapidly narrowing the gap in passenger capacity, airport expansion, and employment. With major investments in infrastructure, airline expansion, and workforce development, the Kingdom is rapidly narrowing the gap in passenger capacity, airport expansion, and employment.
Passenger capacity: Saudi Arabia’s rise to global aviation prominence
Saudi Arabia’s airports handled 128 million passengers in 2024, a 15% increase from 2023 and a 25% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. This surge includes 59 million domestic and 69 million international travellers. In comparison, the UAE remains a key international hub, with 100% of its 35.7 million seats dedicated to international routes.
Saudi Arabia’s key airports:
- Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED): Handled 49.1 million passengers in 2024, marking a 14% increase from the previous year, maintaining its position as the busiest airport in Saudi Arabia.
- Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH): Handled 37 million passengers in 2024, experiencing significant growth but still trailing behind Jeddah in total passenger numbers., with ongoing expansions including the newly expanded Terminal 1. Future development plans under the King Salman International Airport project aim to increase capacity to 120 million passengers per year by 2030, further solidifying Riyadh as a global aviation hub.
United Arab Emirates’ key airports:
- Dubai International Airport (DXB): The region’s largest airport, handling 92.3 million passengers in 2024, surpassing its previous peak in 2018.
- Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH): Handled 28.8 million passengers in 2024, contributing to a total of 29.4 million across Abu Dhabi’s five airports, representing a 28% year-on-year increase.
Projected growth: Saudi Arabia closing the gap
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub, targeting 300 million air passengers by 2030, with 100 million being tourists. This ambitious plan includes expanding airline fleets, investing in maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) centres, and enhancing human capital.
One of the key projects supporting this growth is the Maintenance and Repair Village (MRO) in Jeddah, a one-million-square-metre facility launched in 2023, bolstering Saudi Aerospace Engineering’s ability to service wide- and narrow-body aircraft.
Employment: a workforce transformation
Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector plays a crucial role in the national economy, supporting a vast number of jobs across various domains. The industry contributes to both direct employment within the aviation sector and indirect jobs created through supply chains and tourism-related activities.
Saudi Arabia’s aviation employment figures have just been released, with the sector currently employing 104,000 individuals and projected to reach 274,000 direct jobs by 2030, a 2.6-fold increase. Speaking at the Aerospace Connect Forum in Jeddah on February 24, 2025, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) emphasised that “Saudi Arabia’s national aviation strategy is designed to enhance the sector’s capabilities, aligning with global trends to meet the demands of national tourism and economic development.” He further stated that “GACA’s human capital development strategy ensures that the Kingdom remains at the forefront of global aviation development.”
- Total Employment Impact: Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry supports approximately 958,000 jobs nationwide, encompassing direct, indirect, and induced employment.
- Direct Employment: The most recent figures (see above) indicate that 104,000 individuals are directly employed in aviation-related activities, with projections to reach 274,000 direct jobs by 2030.
- Indirect and Induced Employment: The sector indirectly supports approximately 810,000 jobs through its supply chain and related industries.
- Tourism-Related Employment: Aviation-enabled tourism contributes to 1.1 million jobs, highlighting the sector’s role in the broader economy.
The UAE’s aviation sector also remains a dominant employer:
- As of 2019, the UAE’s aviation sector supported nearly 800,000 jobs, contributing $47.4 billion to the economy (13.3% of GDP).
- In Dubai alone, the aviation industry supported more than 630,000 jobs in 2023, with projections indicating an additional 185,000 jobs by 2030, bringing the total employment in the sector to over 800,000.
It is important to note that methods of calculation may differ between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, making direct comparisons of employment numbers purely indicative. Both countries report direct, indirect, and tourism-related employment figures, though variations in classification and data collection methods can impact comparability., such as roles in aviation-related services and supply chains. This distinction highlights Saudi Arabia’s focus on expanding its core aviation workforce while the UAE benefits from an already well-integrated aviation ecosystem.
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Read also: King Khalid International Airport: a year of record-breaking achievements and expansion milestones
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Photo – top of page – Clay Banks / Unsplash
