Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) released its monthly performance report for February 2025, ranking the Kingdom’s international and domestic airports across 11 service-quality criteria. The report, published on March 24, 2025, evaluates airports on passenger wait times at check-in, baggage claim, passport control and customs, accessibility for people with disabilities, and other measures aligned with global best practices. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan, Arar International Airport and Al-Gurayat Airport led their respective categories. The results reflect a continued push to raise service standards across the Kingdom’s aviation network, a sector positioned at the center of Saudi Arabia’s tourism and economic diversification goals.
Why does a monthly airport ranking matter beyond the aviation sector itself? Because airports are the first and last impression of the Kingdom for millions of travelers, and GACA’s transparent scorecard turns service quality into a measurable, public commitment. The February report grouped airports into five categories based on annual passenger volume, allowing smaller regional airports to compete on equal footing with the largest hubs. This structure rewards efficiency and passenger care rather than sheer size, and it gives airport operators a clear benchmark for improvement. For international audiences, the report offers a rare, data-driven window into how Saudi Arabia is preparing its gateways for the surge in visitors expected under Vision 2030.
Context and Background
How did Saudi Arabia’s airport performance reporting become a regular fixture of the Kingdom’s aviation calendar? GACA, the regulator responsible for civil aviation across Saudi Arabia, introduced monthly performance reports as part of a broader strategy to enhance service quality, improve the passenger experience and elevate standards at the Kingdom’s airports. The reports are published through official Saudi channels, including the Saudi Press Agency, and are based on 11 key performance indicators that cover the full passenger journey. These indicators include wait times during check-in procedures, time spent at baggage claim, processing times at passport control and customs areas, and accessibility standards for people with disabilities. By evaluating airports against criteria aligned with global best practices, GACA creates a consistent, comparable framework for facilities that vary widely in size and traffic.
The February 2025 edition categorized airports into five groups, each defined by annual passenger volume. The first group covers international airports handling more than 15 million passengers annually; the second covers international airports handling between 5 and 15 million; the third covers international airports handling between 2 and 5 million; the fourth covers international airports with fewer than 2 million passengers annually; and the fifth covers domestic airports. This tiered approach ensures that a regional facility such as Al-Gurayat Airport is judged against peers of similar scale rather than against Riyadh’s giant hub. It also encourages every airport, regardless of size, to pursue operational excellence. The result is a ranking system that functions as both a management tool and a public accountability mechanism.
What does GACA hope to achieve by publishing these rankings every month? The regulator has tied the exercise to strategic objectives aimed at enhancing service quality and improving the passenger experience. In practice, the monthly report creates competitive pressure among airport operators, highlights successful practices that can be replicated elsewhere, and gives travelers a reason to trust that standards are being monitored. For a country preparing to welcome tens of millions of visitors in the coming decade, that trust is an economic asset. The February report is therefore not simply a list of winners; it is a snapshot of an aviation system being deliberately upgraded.
Key Details
Which airports stood out in February 2025, and what did their scores reveal? In the first category, for international airports handling more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured first place with an 82 percent compliance rate. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah ranked second with the same compliance rate, though King Khalid International Airport outperformed it in meeting the evaluation criteria. The tie in percentage terms underscores how closely the Kingdom’s two largest gateways are competing, and how small operational differences can determine the top spot. Both airports serve as primary entry points for business travelers, pilgrims and tourists, and both are undergoing significant expansion programs designed to accommodate future growth.
In the second category, for international airports handling between 5 and 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam secured first place with a 91 percent compliance rate, while Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah achieved 82 percent. Dammam’s strong result reflects the eastern province’s role as an industrial and energy hub, while Madinah’s performance matters enormously given its status as a destination for religious travel. In the third category, for international airports handling between 2 and 5 million passengers annually, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan secured first place with a 100 percent compliance rate, followed by Abha International Airport, also with 100 percent, with Jizan outperforming Abha in meeting the evaluation criteria. Achieving full compliance in a competitive category is a notable operational achievement.
In the fourth category, for international airports with fewer than 2 million passengers annually, Arar International Airport ranked first with a 100 percent compliance rate, excelling over competing airports in average wait times for arriving and departing flights. In the fifth category, for domestic airports, Al-Gurayat Airport secured first place with a 100 percent compliance rate and outperformed all competing airports in average wait times for arriving and departing flights. The fact that smaller airports achieved perfect scores suggests that GACA’s framework is not biased toward large, well-resourced hubs. Instead, it appears to reward focused operational management, and it gives regional airports a visible platform to demonstrate their quality to national and international audiences.
International and Regional Impact
How does the performance of Saudi airports resonate beyond the Kingdom’s borders? For international airlines, tour operators and corporate travel planners, GACA’s monthly report provides an independent signal of reliability at Saudi gateways. Carriers deciding where to add capacity, and travel companies designing itineraries for pilgrims or leisure visitors, can use the rankings as part of their planning. Consistent high scores at Riyadh, Dammam, Jizan, Arar and Al-Gurayat suggest that service quality is being managed systematically rather than episodically. That matters for a region where aviation competition is intense, with neighboring hubs in the Gulf investing heavily in passenger experience. Saudi Arabia’s transparent reporting gives it a credible voice in that competition.
Regionally, the report reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a connecting bridge between Asia, Europe and Africa. King Khalid International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport are both major transfer points, and their performance affects the wider Middle East network. When passport control, baggage handling and check-in processes run efficiently, connecting passengers are more likely to choose Saudi routes. The February results also highlight the growing role of secondary airports such as Jizan, Abha, Arar and Al-Gurayat, which support domestic connectivity and regional development. For neighboring economies, the upgrade of Saudi aviation infrastructure creates opportunities for partnerships, codeshares and joint tourism packages, deepening economic integration across the region.
Economic and Strategic Significance
Why should investors and policymakers pay attention to airport service metrics? Aviation is a strategic sector for Saudi Arabia, supporting tourism, trade, logistics and the movement of labor. The National Aviation Strategy aims to expand connectivity, increase passenger numbers and grow the sector’s contribution to the economy. GACA’s monthly reports provide evidence that the operational foundations of that strategy are being strengthened. When an airport achieves a 100 percent compliance rate, it signals that management systems, staffing and infrastructure are working in alignment. Such signals reduce uncertainty for airlines considering new routes and for companies evaluating Saudi Arabia as a logistics or tourism destination. They also support the broader goal of making the Kingdom a global logistics hub.
The economic ripple effects extend to local communities. Airports such as Al-Gurayat and Arar serve regions that are part of Saudi Arabia’s wider development plans, including efforts to diversify local economies and improve quality of life. Efficient air links make it easier for businesses to reach these areas, for residents to travel, and for tourists to explore heritage and natural attractions beyond the major cities. In this sense, the February rankings are not merely operational scorecards; they are indicators of how evenly the benefits of Vision 2030 are being distributed across the Kingdom. The strong showing of smaller airports suggests that investment and management attention are reaching beyond the largest metropolitan centers.
Vision 2030 Alignment
How does a monthly airport report connect to Saudi Arabia’s long-term transformation? Vision 2030 envisions a diversified economy in which tourism, entertainment, logistics and private-sector investment play leading roles. Airports are the physical gateways for that vision: they bring visitors to new destinations, move goods to markets, and connect Saudi businesses to global supply chains. GACA’s commitment to publishing performance data supports the Vision 2030 principles of transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. By measuring wait times, accessibility and service standards, the regulator turns ambitious goals into concrete operational targets that can be tracked month by month. The February 2025 report shows that airports across the Kingdom, from Riyadh and Jeddah to Jizan, Arar and Al-Gurayat, are engaging seriously with those targets.
Looking ahead, the report establishes a baseline against which future progress can be measured. As Saudi Arabia prepares to host major international events and welcome growing numbers of pilgrims and tourists, the pressure on airports will increase. The experience of February 2025 suggests that the system is building the habits needed to handle that growth: competition among airports, transparent scoring, and attention to the details that shape passenger experience. For international readers, the takeaway is clear. Saudi Arabia is not only investing in new terminals and runways; it is also measuring and managing the quality of the journey through its airports. That combination of infrastructure and operational discipline is central to the Kingdom’s ambition to be a global aviation leader and a preferred destination for travelers, investors and partners.
20 Questions
Q1. What did GACA release on March 24, 2025?
A1. GACA released its monthly performance report for February 2025, evaluating Saudi Arabia’s international and domestic airports against 11 key criteria, including passenger wait times, baggage claim, passport control, customs and accessibility standards.
Q2. Which airports ranked among the top performers in the February report?
A2. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan, Arar International Airport and Al-Gurayat Airport ranked among the top performers in their respective categories.
Q3. How many categories were airports divided into?
A3. Airports were categorized into five groups based on annual passenger volume, ranging from international airports handling more than 15 million passengers annually to domestic airports, allowing fair comparison among facilities of similar scale.
Q4. Which airport topped the category for international airports handling more than 15 million passengers?
A4. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured first place with an 82 percent compliance rate, outperforming King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which ranked second with the same compliance rate.
Q5. Which airport ranked first in the 5 to 15 million passenger category?
A5. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam secured first place with a 91 percent compliance rate, while Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah achieved 82 percent in the same category.
Q6. Which airport led the 2 to 5 million passenger category?
A6. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Jizan secured first place with a 100 percent compliance rate, followed by Abha International Airport, also with 100 percent, with Jizan outperforming Abha in meeting the criteria.
Q7. Which airport topped the category for international airports with fewer than 2 million passengers?
A7. Arar International Airport ranked first with a 100 percent compliance rate, excelling over competing airports in average wait times for arriving and departing flights according to the GACA report.
Q8. Which airport ranked first among domestic airports?
A8. Al-Gurayat Airport secured first place in the domestic airports category, achieving a 100 percent compliance rate and outperforming all competing airports in average wait times for arriving and departing flights.
Q9. What are the 11 key performance indicators based on?
A9. The indicators include passenger wait times during check-in procedures, time spent at baggage claim, processing at passport control and customs areas, accessibility standards for people with disabilities, and other criteria aligned with global best practices.
Q10. Why does GACA publish monthly airport performance reports?
A10. GACA publishes the reports to enhance service quality, improve the passenger experience and elevate service standards at the Kingdom’s airports, in line with strategic objectives and the principles of transparency and accountability.
Q11. How do the rankings benefit travelers?
A11. The rankings give travelers independent insight into airport efficiency and service quality, helping them plan journeys with confidence and reassuring them that standards at Saudi airports are being monitored regularly by the regulator.
Q12. What does a 100 percent compliance rate signify?
A12. A 100 percent compliance rate means an airport met all evaluated criteria in its category, reflecting strong operational management, effective staffing and infrastructure, and consistent attention to passenger service standards.
Q13. How do smaller airports benefit from the tiered category system?
A13. The tiered system lets smaller airports compete against peers of similar size rather than against the largest hubs, giving regional facilities such as Arar and Al-Gurayat a fair platform to demonstrate operational excellence.
Q14. What role do Saudi airports play in Vision 2030?
A14. Airports are gateways for tourism, trade and investment under Vision 2030, connecting the Kingdom to global markets, supporting pilgrimages and helping distribute economic opportunities across regions and communities.
Q15. How does the report affect international airlines?
A15. International airlines can use the rankings as a signal of reliability when planning routes and capacity, supporting decisions about adding flights to Saudi destinations and improving connections across the region.
Q16. Which airports are the Kingdom’s two largest international gateways?
A16. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah are the Kingdom’s two largest international gateways, both handling more than 15 million passengers annually.
Q17. What criteria beyond wait times are considered?
A17. Besides wait times at check-in, baggage claim, passport control and customs, the evaluation considers accessibility standards for people with disabilities and other criteria aligned with global best practices in airport service.
Q18. How often does GACA release these performance reports?
A18. GACA releases the airport performance reports on a monthly basis, providing regular, comparable data that allows airports, airlines and the public to track service quality over time.
Q19. What does the February report suggest about regional airports?
A19. The strong results of Jizan, Abha, Arar and Al-Gurayat suggest that investment and management attention are reaching beyond major cities, supporting more balanced regional development across the Kingdom.
Q20. What is the broader significance of the February 2025 report?
A20. The report shows Saudi Arabia is measuring and managing airport service quality systematically, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to be a global aviation leader and a preferred destination for travelers, investors and partners.
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