With the recently launched national strategy for transport and logistics, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to transform Saudi Arabia into a transportation and logistics hub that will connect continents. Several steps are being taken as part of the efforts to make Saudi the foremost destination in the region. Here are some of the key announcements about the new transport and logistics plan.

Launching a new airline

The Kingdom already has a national carrier called Saudia, but under the new strategy, another airline will be launched and expanded to service more routes and countries. The plan also includes the construction of a new airport in Riyadh. While Qatar and the UAE have the first-mover advantage and competing with them is likely to be challenging, efforts are being made to make the new airline a formidable regional operator. When it comes to the number of countries an airline is serving, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines are ranked among the top ten globally. Under the new transport and logistics strategy, the Kingdom aims to make its airlines the world’s fifth largest by the number of countries served.

Currently, the Kingdom’s aviation flagship, Saudia, flies to 39 destinations, but the goal is to reach over 250 destinations across the globe. The new airline will serve tourists as well as people traveling for business, whereas Saudia will be used by those who are making a pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.

Increasing non-oil revenue

A multipronged approach will be used to boost the sector’s contribution to GDP from 6% to 10%. The transport and logistics sector is expected to contribute SAR 45 billion ($12 billion) to non-oil revenues annually by the time Vision 2030 concludes.