As we close the chapter on 2025, reflecting from our offices here in Riyadh, the transformation of Saudi aviation is unmistakable. This hasn’t just been a year of growth; it has been a year of “industrial proof.” We have moved beyond the visionary sketches of Vision 2030 and into the grit of large-scale execution.
During our recent discussions at the Global Airports Forum (GAF) and conversations with peers across the sector, one thing is clear: Saudi Arabia is no longer just a participant in global aviation—it is leading the charge in rewriting its future.
2025: The Year of the “100 Million” Milestone
The data from GACA is staggering. Breaking the 103 million passenger barrier by the third quarter of 2025 was a signal to the world: our ambition is not some pie in the sky. With flight movements up 5% and the re-election of the Kingdom to the ICAO Council, it’s clear that the National Aviation Strategy is officially operational.
The real success of 2025 is not just in the passenger counts, but in our operational resilience. We saw Riyadh Air transition from a “digital-native” concept to a fleet-heavy reality with its recent A321neo and A350 orders. We also saw the “invisible” engines of the airport—the ground handlers and O&M providers—stretching to meet a 24% growth in movements.
At KAMS Global, our focus remains on these foundational layers. Conversation at the GAF demonstrated the shift towards Airside Operations Planning and Execution. It is easy to design a beautiful terminal; it is significantly harder to ensure that the Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and the O&M frameworks are robust enough to handle the 330 million passengers we expect by 2030. In our view, 2025 was the year the Airport Master Planning Support moved from being a static document to a living, breathing process.
Looking Ahead to 2026: From Experimentation to AI Integration
If 2025 was about volume, 2026 will be about Sophistication and Intelligence. As highlighted recently in Aviation Business Middle East, AI has escaped the “experimentation stage” and is becoming core infrastructure. For KAMS Global and our partners, this means three things:
1. Predictive O&M and the “AI-Native” Ramp
Saudi Arabia is the laboratory where the future of an AI-native aviation industry is being written. In 2026, we will see AI move from a “chatbot” in the terminal to a “brain” on the ramp. Turning maintenance from fixing what is broken to predicting what is likely to break: Predictive O&M. By industrializing data pipelines, we can reduce the friction in knowledge capture—using AI to predict irregular operations before they cascade through the network.
Whether it’s optimizing GSE turnarounds or predicting component failure in airside infrastructure, the goal is to eliminate “AOG” (Aircraft on Ground) events through smarter task planning.
2. Cybersecurity as a Board-Level Mandate
As we integrate AI-driven workflows into airside planning, our “attack surface” grows. We’ve always said that CyberSecurity is not an IT issue; it is a safety issue. In 2026, as we adopt more autonomous flight systems and smart urban mobility (AAM), protecting the integrity of our national logistics hub will require a Zero Trust mindset. We cannot have innovation without assurance.
3. The Green Ramp (eGSE)
The transition to Electric Ground Support Equipment (eGSE) will accelerate. By 2026, sustainability won’t just be an ESG line item; it will be a requirement for operational efficiency. The integration of 400Hz and 28V DC systems will become the standard, reducing both carbon footprints and long-term maintenance costs.
A Reality Check: Vision vs. Achievement
Critics often ask: “Is Saudi Arabia doing too much, too fast?”
Our opinion? We are exactly where we need to be, but the “Execution Gap” is our biggest risk. While we are hitting passenger targets, the pressure on Airside Support and Cargo Logistics is immense. The Saudi Aviation Strategy sets a target of 4.5 million tonnes of cargo; to reach this, 2026 must see a radical acceleration in our secondary airport master plans and private aviation infrastructure.
We are also seeing a “war for talent.” As we have said before, our mission is “Building Bridges.” In 2026, those bridges must be between global technology and local talent. We aren’t just buying systems; we are building a workforce capable of managing the most complex aviation ecosystem on the planet.
Closing Thoughts
As we step into 2026, KAMS Global remains committed to being the backbone of this transformation. Aviation is a team sport. Whether you are in government, a global vendor, or a local operator, our success depends on the seamless integration of our planning and the robustness of our execution.
The sky is no longer the limit—it’s our workplace. 2026 is the year we turn “ambition” into “standard.”
KAMS Global is based in Saudi Arabia and specializes in helping international aviation and defense companies successfully enter and operate in the Kingdom’s growing market. Get in touch to learn how we can support your growth in one of the world’s most dynamic aviation markets.
