ACJ says economic growth in Saudi Arabia is driving demand for business aviation

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 

Airbus Corporate Jets says Saudi Arabia’s strong economic growth is driving demand for business aviation in the country. Its analysis¹ of industry data reveals that in the first 10 months of this year, Saudi Arabia saw a 20.9% increase in business aircraft departures when compared to the same period in 2024.

Fueling this strong market performance is Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national strategy launched in 2016 with a key aim to transform the country’s economy by diversifying away from oil. The initiative is delivering strong results, with the International Monetary Fund forecasting annual economic growth of 4% this year and predicts a similar projection for 2026.

A new study² commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) reveals that corporate aviation is playing an increasingly critical role for Saudi-based corporates, hedge funds, private equity firms and family offices. The report finds that private aircraft are not only enabling organizations to expand internationally, but are also being used to enhance productivity, improve work-life balance and support philanthropic causes.

The research was conducted amongst senior professionals based in Saudi Arabia, comprising 13 senior executives at some of the largest corporations in the Middle East and 12 Saudi-based family offices, hedge funds and private equity firms with a combined AUM of US$55 billion. The findings highlight the extent to which Saudi businesses are turning to business aviation to accelerate cross-border strategies.

Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets, said: 

“Saudi Arabia is on a long-term journey to transform and diversify its economy, and this is resulting in some strong economic growth. That is driving demand for business aviation, which has become a cornerstone of growth and global connectivity. It not only delivers time savings and productivity gains but also allows organizations to extend opportunities to more employees and to contribute meaningfully to philanthropic missions. ACJ’s mission is to serve clients who are using business aviation not just to advance their businesses, but also to enhance lives – both for the wellbeing of their employees and supporting the needs of wider communities.”

All (100%) Saudi-based hedge fund and private equity respondents say they plan to focus more on raising capital overseas over the next three years than they did in the previous three, with every firm confirming they will be fundraising in new international markets. This expansion is mirrored in physical presence – 86% of hedge funds and private equity firms surveyed expect to increase the number of their global offices, while 80% of family offices reported that they have already expanded to new jurisdictions. 

Business aviation is providing the foundation for this international reach. Over the past two years, 80% of all Saudi-based survey respondents said their use of corporate jets had increased by between 25% and 50%, with the remaining 20% reporting an even steeper rise of 50% to 75%  All respondents expect their aviation usage to grow by at least 25% in the next two years, with nearly two-thirds (64%) anticipating an increase of 50% or more.

The findings also indicate that more than half (56%) of respondents said that at least half of their business aviation trips are to destinations not served by commercial airlines. When asked about productivity, all agreed that work performance is improved when flying privately, with 88% reporting gains of 25% to 50%. The main benefits identified were greater flexibility to work securely on board and more control over scheduling.

In addition to efficiency, the personal impact of business aviation is notable – all respondents said it improved their work-life balance and three in four (76%) save more than two hours on an average trip compared with commercial flights. 

Access to corporate aviation is broadening across organizations. Nine in 10 (92%) said more employees now have access to business jet travel and all respondents expect this to increase over the next three years.

Beyond commercial objectives, Saudi organizations are turning to business aviation to further their philanthropic commitments. Ninety-six percent of respondents said their companies already use corporate aircraft to support aid operations, such as transporting patients for urgent medical treatment, carrying organs for surgery, or delivering aid during crises. All respondents said they expect this support to expand over the next five years.

Earlier this year ACJ commissioned research with business aviation users across the Middle East and the report can be found below. 

ACJ offers a range of large business aircraft. The ACJ TwoTwenty is carving out a whole new market segment – ‘The Xtra Large Bizjet.’

Notes to Editors:

1 Airbus Corporate Jets analysis of WingX data, November 2025.
2 Airbus Corporate Jets commissioned the independent research company PureProfile to survey 25 senior professionals based in Saudi Arabia comprising 13 senior executives at some of the largest corporates in Saudi Arabia with an annual revenue of over US$300 million, and 12 Saudi-based family offices, hedge funds and private equity firms with a combined AUM of US$55 billion. The research was conducted in June 2025.