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The companies said in a joint announcement that the Riyadh Air Mastercard credit and prepaid cards will integrate directly into the airline’s mobile application, allowing Saudi residents to earn rewards redeemable for flights, experiences and other benefits. Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer of Riyadh Air, said in the statement, “Our deep collaboration with Mastercard clearly reflects not only our commitment to be a digital native airline but strong confidence in our future trajectory.” Boukadida added that the partnership enables the delivery of seamless digital travel experiences from integrated payments and rewards to premium airport services and innovative virtual payment solutions. The initiative positions the new Saudi national carrier to differentiate its offerings from day one of operations.
Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, president for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, stated in the announcement that the collaboration creates an integrated digitally native ecosystem delivering value across multiple touchpoints. “Together with Riyadh Air, we are creating an integrated digitally-native ecosystem that delivers value at every touchpoint—for guests, travel agents, airlines and hospitality partners—while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global travel hub,” Dosis said. The partners will establish a joint center of excellence dedicated to innovation and technology in payments and travel services, according to the release. This center aims to support ongoing development of solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the Saudi market.
Riyadh Air will become the first airline globally to operate a branded virtual card program for business-to-business travel settlements under the agreement, the companies reported. The virtual cards are designed to improve efficiency and security in transactions involving travel agents, airlines and hospitality providers. Riyadh Air began commercial operations in October 2025 and plans to serve more than 100 international destinations by 2030, according to an IMARC Group sector analysis. The carrier’s digital-first model aligns with broader efforts to modernize the kingdom’s aviation infrastructure.
A Mastercard Economics Institute report on travel trends noted that recent reforms have driven increased passenger traffic to Riyadh and Jeddah as Saudi Arabia expands its tourism offerings. Saudi Vision 2030 planning documents set targets of 150 million annual tourist visitors and 330 million air passengers by 2030 while seeking to expand air connectivity to 250 destinations. The aviation sector’s contribution to the Saudi economy is projected to grow from $21.3 billion in 2023 to $74.6 billion by 2030, according to industry assessments compiled in a report by Argaam.
The partnership extends beyond consumer cards to include enhancements in premium airport experiences and next-generation B2B payment innovations, the joint statement indicated. These elements form part of a comprehensive ecosystem that combines Mastercard’s payments expertise with Riyadh Air’s focus on differentiated guest journeys. Officials from both organizations emphasized the alignment with Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading global travel hub. The announcement highlighted opportunities for collaboration across the travel value chain.
Mastercard data from its 2025 travel trends review showed strong growth in air passenger volumes to key Saudi cities amid economic diversification initiatives. Investments totaling $100 billion are directed toward civil aviation under the National Aviation Strategy, covering airport expansions, aircraft acquisitions and logistics hubs, according to the Argaam sector overview. Riyadh Air’s collaboration with Mastercard is expected to contribute to these goals by embedding advanced payment and rewards capabilities into the travel experience from launch. The airline maintains code-share and interline agreements with carriers including Saudia, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic to broaden its network reach.
