Saudi Airlines To Begin Direct Abuja-Jeddah Flights In December – Keyamo

• Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia Airlines, will commence direct flights between Abuja and Jeddah in December, providing a new non-stop air connection between Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory and the Saudi commercial hub.

• The airline will deploy the Airbus A321XLR on the route, with Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo saying the decision reflects the Federal Government’s insistence that foreign airlines deploy newer aircraft on Nigerian routes.

• The new route is expected to strengthen travel links between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly for Nigerians travelling to the Kingdom for pilgrimage, business, education and other purposes, while also supporting growing commercial exchanges.

September 25, () – Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia Airlines, will commence direct flights between Abuja and Jeddah in December, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo has announced.

Keyamo disclosed this on Thursday following the announcement by Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, at the Kingdom’s 96th National Day celebration in Abuja.

According to the minister, the direct service followed sustained efforts by both countries to establish a direct air connection between Abuja and Jeddah.

“During his speech, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, His Excellency, Yousef Bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, announced the start of direct flights from Abuja to Jeddah in December by SAUDIA AIRLINES, something we have all worked on for some time now”, Keyamo said in a post on X.

The development will provide travellers from Abuja with a direct connection to Jeddah, a major Saudi city and an important gateway for Muslims travelling to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Keyamo said Saudia would operate the Abuja-Jeddah route with the Airbus A321XLR, describing it as the newest model in the Airbus family.

He attributed the deployment to the Federal Government’s continued insistence that foreign airlines operating into Nigeria should use newer aircraft.

“We are also pleased to note that, due to our continued insistence on deployment of newer aircraft by foreign airlines to the Nigerian route, SAUDIA AIRLINES have unveiled the AIRBUS 321 XLR, the newest model of the AIRBUS family, to be deployed on the Abuja-Jeddah route”, the minister said.

The A321XLR is a long-range variant of the Airbus A321neo family, designed to operate longer international routes while retaining the operating economics of a narrow-body aircraft.

Saudia received its first A321XLR in May 2026, becoming the first airline in the Middle East and Africa to operate the aircraft. The Saudi carrier has ordered 15 of the aircraft as part of its fleet expansion and modernisation programme.

The Abuja-Jeddah service is expected to initially operate three times weekly, according to published schedule information.

The introduction of the aircraft on the route also marks another step in Saudia’s expansion of its international network and fleet renewal programme.

Boost For Pilgrims, Business Travellers

The new direct service is particularly significant for Nigerian travellers heading to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.

For decades, Saudi Arabia has remained a major destination for Nigerians travelling for religious pilgrimage, while Nigerians also visit the Kingdom for business, education, employment and other purposes.

Direct connectivity between Abuja and Jeddah is expected to reduce the need for some passengers to travel through third-country hubs, potentially making the journey more convenient for travellers originating from the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring regions.

The service could also facilitate greater movement of businesspeople and investors between the two countries as Nigeria and Saudi Arabia seek to expand bilateral commercial relations.

Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deepen Economic Ties

The aviation announcement came as officials from both countries highlighted efforts to broaden Nigeria-Saudi relations beyond their longstanding religious and people-to-people connections.

Speaking at the National Day celebration, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigeria and Saudi Arabia were deepening cooperation in agriculture, energy, investment, aviation, financial technology and trade.

According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris said the areas of cooperation offered opportunities for both countries to translate their longstanding relationship into practical economic benefits.

He said the relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia had been built on history, faith, people-to-people connections and shared interests.

“Nigerians have travelled to Saudi Arabia for generations for pilgrimage, education, business, and other purposes”, Idris said.

The minister said Nigeria could draw lessons from Saudi Arabia’s development experience as the Federal Government implements its economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Idris said the government was pursuing reforms to strengthen the economy, improve the investment environment, expand infrastructure and create greater opportunities for Nigerians.

He listed ongoing efforts in roads and rail infrastructure, electricity supply and the oil and gas sector, alongside increased attention to agriculture, manufacturing, digital technology and the creative economy.

Idris also used the occasion to invite Saudi investors and businesses to take advantage of opportunities in Nigeria.

He identified agriculture and food production, energy, infrastructure, mining and technology as areas with considerable potential for cooperation.

“We welcome Saudi investors and businesses that are interested in Nigeria. There is considerable room for cooperation in agriculture and food production, energy, infrastructure, mining, technology and other productive sectors”, he said.

The minister said Nigeria was seeking to attract more long-term investment by creating clearer and more predictable frameworks for investors.

He added that reforms in the deep offshore sector were to unlock new investment while strengthening Nigerian participation.

Idris commended the Saudi Arabian Embassy for its efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries, expressing confidence that bilateral ties would continue to expand through increased trade, investment, exchanges and partnerships.