✈️ Saudi Arabia’s Two Airports Contribute an Additional 199 Movements
On September 14, 2026, Luxaviation described the Middle East market as still relatively weak in its business jet charter market assessment. Earlier, on September 1, Universal Aviation began operating the new general aviation terminal and FBO in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and stated that facilities in Jeddah and Riyadh were expected to commence operations within 2026. Avi-Go data show that during the 28 days from August 20 to September 16, 2026, business aircraft movements at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh increased from 539 in the preceding 28 days to 643, an increase of 104 movements, or 19.3%. At King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, movements rose from 348 to 443, an increase of 95 movements, or 27.3%. Together, the two airports contributed an additional 199 movements, driving the combined total for the three-airport sample comprising Riyadh, Jeddah, and Hamad International Airport in Doha from 894 to 1,095 movements, an increase of 22.5%. During the same period, movements at Hamad International Airport increased from 7 to 9. However, the sample excludes Doha International Airport, a key airport for business aviation in Doha, and therefore reflects activity at Hamad International Airport only.
Impact: Combined movements at Riyadh and Jeddah have increased from 887 to 1,086. As Universal Aviation plans to expand handling facilities at both locations, service capacity and resource allocation following the opening of the new FBOs will directly face a higher baseline level of traffic in the sample. Meanwhile, Luxaviation’s market assessment of Middle East charter demand and the short-window data for the two Saudi airports represent different analytical perspectives and should not be treated as substitutes for one another.
Recommendation: Based on the measured changes over the latest 28-day period—an increase of 104 movements in Riyadh and 95 in Jeddah—Universal Aviation can allocate personnel and equipment separately for the initial operating phase of the facilities at each location. Throughout 2026, it will be worth continuing to monitor whether movements at the two airports remain at current levels after the new facilities commence operations.