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New Premium Airline Riyadh Air Prepares For Late 2025 Takeoff
The ultra-premium service has already begun forging strong partnership and sponsor deals, and plans to connect 100 cities by 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s latest airline venture, Riyadh Air, is gearing up for its first flights in late 2025. With a strong emphasis on digital innovation, premium service, and strategic alliances, the airline is poised to shake up the aviation sector.
“By the end of this year, you will see Riyadh Air in the skies,” CEO Tony Douglas announced at the Saudi-backed Future Investment Initiative conference. His message was clear: the airline is fully prepared to serve both domestic and international travelers.
At #FIIPRIORITY in Miami, during the 'How is Technology Disrupting the Sky' panel, our CEO Tony Douglas shared insights on how #RiyadhAir’s digital-first approach will elevate modern travelers’ experiences.
Get ready for a fast, convenient, and seamless all-in-one booking… pic.twitter.com/yYYhO3jDaV
— Riyadh Air (@RiyadhAir) February 21, 2025
As a key player in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative, Riyadh Air has been rapidly building international partnerships, such as its latest collaboration with LIV Golf. The airline was also responsible for bringing singer Jameela to Saudi Arabia for the first time.
CEO Douglas has ambitious hopes of Riyadh Air bringing back the golden age of aviation, comparing it to iconic carriers like TWA and Pan Am. He promised “haute couture, glamour, refinement, and style” from the airline’s cabin experience, setting a high bar for service and aesthetics.
Despite a desire to bring back the glory days of commercial aviation, Riyadh Air is still adopting a modern, digital-first approach. An AI-driven concierge service will integrate travel bookings with entertainment and dining options, with CEO Tony Douglas likening the system’s intuitive capabilities to platforms like Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb.
Douglas sees vast potential in the Saudi aviation market, calling it “underserved” and ready for growth. Riyadh Air has already secured connectivity agreements with major carriers like Delta Air Lines and Singapore Airlines, ensuring smooth connections to international destinations.
“With Delta, for example, a passenger flying from Riyadh can easily connect to Phoenix or Baltimore via Atlanta or JFK,” Douglas explained, highlighting the convenience of the partnership.
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The airline’s fleet plans include commissioning 72 Boeing 787s and 60 Airbus A321neos, with negotiations ongoing for additional widebody aircraft. Despite Boeing’s recent delivery issues, Douglas remains confident: “Boeing will come good, there is no question”.
By 2030, Riyadh Air aims to serve 100 global destinations, with Miami among the cities under review. Douglas pointed to Saudi Arabia’s rising tourism profile, noting that it was the second most-searched travel destination on Google last year, thanks to attractions like Diriyah, AlUla, and Riyadh itself.
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Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.
Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.
The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.
The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.
Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.
The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.
Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.
The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.
Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia
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