E-Paper
Sign In
Dubai-Riyadh route records second highest airfare increase among cross-border travel
Saudi Arabia has made obtaining visas much easier for the UAE and some other countries, issuing an e-visa for pilgrims through its Nusuk Umrah platform
- PUBLISHED: Sun 11 Jan 2026, 10:37 AM
Dubai-Riyadh route saw the second-highest airfare increase during 2025, growing by six per cent, reflecting strong demand on regional routes.
According to data shared by OAG, Dubai-Riyadh was also among the top 10 busiest routes globally last year, placing it at the seventh busiest route in the world with 4.465 million seats, up four per cent year-on-year and 42 per cent above 2019, reflecting the steady, strong demand for Middle East connectivity.
Recommended For You
It said that the Dubai-Riyadh fare was $267 (Dh980) in 2025, an increase of six per cent over 2024. Dubai and Riyadh traffic is mainly driven by demand from business-to-business (B2B) travellers and religious tourism.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels
This is reflected in Dubai Airport's data as well, which showed Saudi Arabia remaining the second top market in terms of passenger traffic during the first nine months of 2025, with 5.5 million travellers, while Riyadh was the second top city for Dubai with 2.3 million travellers during the January-September 2025 period.
Dubai International is the world’s busiest international airport. At the end of 2024, it connected 272 destinations across 107 countries served by 106 international airlines.
Saudi Arabia has made obtaining visas much easier for the UAE and some other countries, issuing an e-visa for pilgrims through its Nusuk Umrah platform. This resulted in increased traffic between the two neighbouring Gulf countries.
Launched in August 2025,the platform aimed to improve service quality and enrich the pilgrim experience. Nusuk Umrah was a new option for international Umrah pilgrims, complementing existing channels like accredited agents.
The service allowed users to customise their trip by choosing from integrated packages or booking individual services such as visas, accommodation, transportation, and tours.
According to OAG data, Kuala Lumpur-Singapore saw the highest increase in airfares of eight per cent, averaging $62 (Dh227). It is ranked the third busiest cross-border route globally.
The other route that saw a high increase in 2025 was New York-London, an increase of two per cent.
Tokyo-Taipei, Bangkok-Hong Kong, Cair-Jeddah, Seoul-Tokyo, Hong Kong-Taipei, and Jakarta-Singapore saw the highest decrease in airfares, ranging between five per cent and 12 per cent in 2025.
