Saudi Arabia means BIG business...and HOW

With plans to invest $600 billion in the United States during the state visit of American President Donald Trump, Saudi Arabia announced to the world that it is all set to play on the world stage...big time.

"Saudi Arabia is one of the United States’ largest trading partners in the Middle East. Saudi direct investment in the United States totaled $9.5 billion in 2023, focused on the transportation, real estate, and automotive sectors. In 2024, U.S.-Saudi Arabia goods trade totaled $25.9 billion, with U.S. exports at $13.2 billion, imports at $12.7 billion, and a trade surplus in goods of $443 million," White House said while announcing the trade deals.

Aviation and Saudi Arabia
Airports across Saudi Arabia handled 1.2 million tonnes in 2024, recording a 34 percent increase compared to 2023. March was the peak month for cargo traffic, with a total of 123,000 tonnes, according to data released by General Authority of Statistics (GASTAT) and Air Transport Statistics for 2024.

"The cargo volumes were distributed as follows: 64,000 tonnes of outbound cargo, 720,000 tonnes of inbound cargo and 407,000 tonnes of transit cargo."

Speaking at the IATA Aviation Day Middle East and North Africa (MENA) held recently, Nick Careen, Senior Vice President Operations, Safety and Security, IATA said: "The pace of change and ambition in Saudi aviation is remarkable. The sector is not just moving forward—it’s moving forward at speed. And that should make everyone in this room take notice."

Careen added that a Middle East united by open skies, harmonised regulations and shared innovation would be even more competitive, more resilient and deliver even more economic and social benefits for people. "And it would ensure that no country is left behind in aviation’s growth story."

IATA also announced several training agreements with Saudi airlines, airports and academic institutions to address skills needed to support the Kingdom’s growing aviation sector. In the initial phase, over 1,000 aviation graduates and employees will receive comprehensive skills training, covering a wide range of areas, including airport development, safety, airline management and ground operations.

King Salman International Airport (KSIA), an international airport in development which would serve Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is aiming for a cargo capacity of two million tonnes by 2030 and 3.5 million tonnes by 2050.

The airport with a land area of 57 sq.km will have an airport land area of 45,000 sq.metre and real estate area of 12,000 sq.metre, according to a presentation by KSIA in October 2024.

Coming to the Logistics Performance Index, Saudi Arabia was ranked 38th globally in 2022, and plans to improve it to 25th by 2030. "It is currently under revision as part of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) to reflect updated ambitions."

Saudia Cargo, Swissport and more
Swissport is expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia, launching ground handling operations at seven additional airports as of June 1, 2025. The growth brings Swissport’s network in the Kingdom to 13 airports, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality services across the region.

Dirk Goovaerts, CEO, Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa & India and Global Cargo Chair, Swissport says: “Saudi Arabia is a core market for Swissport and a cornerstone of our global growth strategy. Expanding our ground operations to 13 airports across the Kingdom marks a major milestone that reflects both our long-term commitment to the region and our alignment with Saudi Vision 2030. As the Kingdom sets its sights on becoming a global aviation hub, we are proud to contribute with world-class ground services that prioritise safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Our industry-leading on-time performance of above 99%—the best in Saudi Arabia and one of the highest in our global network—is a testament to the strength of our local teams, trusted airline partnerships, and our focus on consistent service delivery.”

Saudia Cargo is a driving force behind Saudi Vision 2030, playing a pivotal role in transforming the Kingdom into a leading global logistics hub, according to Loay Mashabi, CEO and Managing Director, Saudia Cargo. "We're directly contributing to the National Aviation Strategy's ambitious goal of handling 4.5 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030. We're expanding our freighter fleet, aiming to double it by 2028, and investing heavily in upgrading cargo facilities at key hubs like Jeddah and Riyadh with cutting-edge cold chain and automation technologies.

"We're also forging strategic partnerships with key players like Cainiao, China Cargo Airlines and China Henan Aviation Group (CHAGC) to boost our capabilities and reach. Our MoU with CHAGC is set to create a powerful air logistics bridge between Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, leveraging Zhengzhou and Riyadh as vital hubs and supporting investment in high-tech sectors in Zhengzhou.

"Digital transformation through AI, IoT and blockchain, is also key to unlocking greater efficiency and transparency. Ultimately, we're committed to providing reliable air cargo services to support thriving local industries, particularly e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and perishables, while strengthening Riyadh’s position as a global trade nexus."

Saudi Arabia, e-commerce and air cargo
Saudia Cargo transported 577,870 tonnes in 2024 and conducted 193,599 flights. E-commerce shipments saw a 23 percent growth, totalling 64,107 tonnes.

The company championed homegrown exports by transporting 13,740 tonnes of locally produced goods, a 14 percent increase from 2023.

Saudia Cargo is laser-focused on both e-commerce and transshipments, recognising their strategic importance in today's evolving global trade landscape, according to CEO Mashabi. "For e-commerce, we're actively collaborating with major players like Cainiao, developing dedicated routes and services such as the Zhengzhou-Liege route and optimising facilities at key hubs to handle surging e-commerce volumes. Our commitment to e-commerce has been recognised with the prestigious award of Best E-Commerce Carrier of the Year in the Middle East. In terms of transshipments, we're strategically developing Jeddah and Riyadh as key hubs connecting Asia, Europe and Africa, leveraging Saudi Arabia's prime geographic location and forging powerful partnerships to enhance our capabilities.”

We're directly contributing to the National Aviation Strategy's ambitious goal of handling 4.5 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2030.
-Loay Mashabi, CEO, Saudia Cargo

Technology and air cargo
Saudia Cargo has signed an agreement with Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), a SATS company and global leader in ground handling, for the launch of ONE Record integration with CHAMP Cargosystems.

CHAMP's 1Neo-Connect service facilitates the integration, enabling standardised shipment data exchange between Saudia Cargo and WFS. The project establishes a practical ONE Record use case, demonstrating how the initiative enhances air cargo transparency and real-time visibility for all stakeholders. Saudia Cargo and WFS will benefit from enhanced data accuracy and instant booking updates, significantly improving shipment visibility. The real-time data flow enables improved planning and operational efficiency while fostering greater agility and proactive decision-making through immediate access to precise shipment status details.

Technology is absolutely central to Saudia Cargo's operations, "and we're committed to continuous innovation to stay ahead of the curve,” adds Mashabi. “We're reshaping customer experience and efficiency through our cutting-edge Connect digital platform and IATA’s ONE Record integration. We provide real-time tracking and visibility, and leverage advanced AI and ML techniques through our implementation of RTS Velocity, AcceleRate, and Foresight solutions for optimised revenue management and dynamic pricing. We use data analytics to optimise routes, improve efficiency and have achieved an impressive 85 percent E-AWB adoption rate. Looking ahead, we're exploring the transformative potential of AI and machine learning to further optimise operations, blockchain to enhance transparency and security and IoT sensors to revolutionise cargo handling.”

Outlook and expansion
Swissport is investing in innovation, sustainability and local talent to ensure operations grow in step with the Kingdom’s ambitions. Goovaerts says: “From deploying advanced digital tools to transitioning to electric ground support equipment, we are building a future-ready operation designed to meet rising demand. Guided by strong local leadership and backed by Swissport’s global expertise, we are delivering on our promise to be a reliable, high-performance partner—supporting Saudi Arabia’s transformation and long-term success in aviation and beyond."

As the Kingdom sets its sights on becoming a global aviation hub, we are proud to contribute with world-class ground services that prioritise safety, reliability, and operational excellence.
-Dirk Goovaerts, Swissport

Mashabi has the last word here: “Saudia Cargo is actively gearing up to meet the specialised and demanding logistics needs of the high-tech, high-precision industries. This includes providing secure and reliable transportation for high-value components and finished products, offering expedited delivery options to meet the fast-paced demands of the technology sector, and developing specialised expertise in handling sensitive equipment. We're implementing advanced tracking and monitoring systems to ensure the integrity and security of every shipment and working closely with leading technology companies to understand their unique logistics challenges and develop customised solutions.”