Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 31st World Route Development Forum (Routes World 2026), which will take place in Riyadh.
The event, considered the premier global platform for shaping the future of air connectivity, will bring together airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and aviation stakeholders to negotiate and plan future services.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) will officially lead the event, with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) as the tourism partner, the Air Connectivity Program (ACP) as the air connectivity partner, and Matarat Holding as the airport partner. Organized by Tahaluf, Routes World 2026 will highlight Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global aviation hub under Vision 2030.
The decision to award Riyadh as host city reflects Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in aviation and tourism. In 2024, the Kingdom’s airports welcomed more than 128 million passengers, a 15% year-on-year increase and 25% above pre-pandemic levels. Momentum continued into the first half of 2025, with 66.7 million passengers, 467,000 flights, and 575,000 tons of cargo handled across the country’s airports.
“Hosting Routes World 2026 is a major milestone in our journey to position Riyadh and the Kingdom as a central hub for global aviation,” said His Excellency Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of GACA and Chairman of Matarat Holding. “The decision endorses Saudi Arabia’s dynamic aviation growth, infrastructure investment programme, and ambitious Vision 2030 tourism and economic growth agenda.”
Tourism authorities also emphasized the wider impact of hosting the event. “Saudi is not just welcoming the world, we’re connecting it,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority. “Our rise as a global leader in tourism and aviation is opening doors between people, places, and opportunities like never before.”
The Air Connectivity Program welcomed the selection of Riyadh as host city, underlining its alignment with the Kingdom’s tourism and aviation strategies. “Hosting such a prestigious event in Saudi Arabia is a testament to our commitment to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and aviation sectors,” said Majid Khan, CEO of ACP. “This event directly aligns with the bold ambitions of the Saudi National Tourism Strategy and the Aviation Program.”
Industry observers highlighted Saudi Arabia’s rapid growth in international tourism and aviation. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has demonstrated extraordinary growth, with international visitor spending reaching $40.95 billion in 2024,” said Steven Small, Managing Director of Routes. “This remarkable performance, coupled with the country’s strategic location and modern aviation infrastructure, makes Riyadh an ideal host for Routes World 2026.”
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in aviation infrastructure to support future growth. Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport is expected to handle 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is undergoing expansion to boost capacity from 50 million passengers today to 80–114 million by 2030, and eventually 100 million by 2035. The launch of Riyadh Air in 2025 is expected to further enhance connectivity, with plans to serve more than 100 international destinations.
Hosting Routes World 2026 builds on Riyadh’s track record of securing major international events, including World Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034. The forum is expected to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s role as a connector between Asia, Africa, and Europe, reinforcing its long-term strategy to expand global air connectivity and tourism growth.
