Hong Kong Airport Authority hands over Routes World hosting to Riyadh

Hong Kong Airport Authority handed over Routes World to Saudi Arabia’s GACA on 26 September 2025.

The 2026 event partners include Saudi Tourism Authority, Air Connectivity Program and Matarat Holding. Riyadh hosts the 31st forum in September 2026, expecting over 8,000 meetings among airlines and airports.

Saudi Arabia recorded 128m passengers in 2024, supporting its role as a global aviation hub. International visitor spending hit $40.95bn in 2024, up with 116m arrivals.

Abdulaziz Al-Duailej shared “Hosting Routes World 2026 is a major milestone in our journey to position Riyadh and the Kingdom as a central hub for global aviation. The decision endorses Saudi Arabia’s dynamic aviation growth, infrastructure investment programme, and ambitious Vision 2030 tourism and economic growth agenda.”

Steven Small shared “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has demonstrated extraordinary growth, with international visitor spending reaching $40.95 billion in 2024. This remarkable performance, coupled with the country’s strategic location and modern aviation infrastructure, makes Riyadh an ideal host for Routes World 2026.”