Saudia will launch direct flights between Dammam and London Heathrow in November 2025, expanding air connectivity between the UK and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The move is part of a broader strategy by the Saudi Air Connectivity Program, working in close partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority, Dammam Airports Company, and the Sharqia Development Authority (SDA) to promote international tourism to the Kingdom.
The route will be operated three times a week in both directions, offering greater access for British travellers to the Eastern Province, a region that has remained relatively underexplored compared to Riyadh or Jeddah. For travellers from Saudi Arabia, the direct link adds convenience for business, leisure, and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel.
The launch is timed strategically to tap into winter tourism traffic, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s ongoing campaigns to attract European visitors seeking cultural experiences, Red Sea adventures, and mild desert weather.
Supporting Saudi Vision 2030
The Dammam–London route is part of a larger national effort to grow Saudi Arabia’s international route network in line with Vision 2030. This route, in particular, is designed to elevate the profile of Dammam as both a tourism and economic hub, highlighting its potential to host international events, promote coastal tourism, and support the country’s logistics and energy sectors.
Officials from the Air Connectivity Program noted that including Dammam in overseas tourism marketing campaigns — especially in the UK — would help generate inbound interest beyond the traditional tourism centres.
With this new route, Saudia is not only expanding access to one of Europe’s busiest airports, but also reinforcing the Kingdom’s ambition to become a top-tier global tourism destination by opening new gateways for travellers.
