Travellers between Morocco and Saudi Arabia will soon have a new direct flight option. Saudi low-cost airline Flynas will launch a new direct flight between Jeddah and Rabat on 4 July. The airline will operate the route once a week, becoming the first Saudi carrier to offer non-stop flights between the two cities.
Flynas said the new service is part of its plans to grow its presence in Africa and supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to improve international air connections.
The route gives travellers a new option for flying between the two countries at a time when Gulf airlines are adding more services across Africa.
For Saudi Arabia, the move fits into wider plans to expand its aviation sector under Vision 2030. The country wants to increase annual passenger traffic to 330 million by the end of the decade, up from about 112 million passengers in 2023. It also aims to connect Saudi airports with 250 international destinations.
The new flight could appeal to tourists, business travellers and religious pilgrims. Jeddah is the main entry point for people travelling to Mecca for Umrah and Hajj.
Saudi Arabia hopes to welcome 30 million Umrah pilgrims a year by 2030, and direct flights from cities such as Rabat are expected to make those journeys easier and more affordable.
The launch also comes as Morocco’s tourism sector continues to grow. The country welcomed nearly 19.8 million international visitors in 2025, one of the highest figures on record.
Morocco has been working to attract visitors from a wider range of markets, including Gulf countries. Better air links have helped drive that growth.
The Rabat route builds on Flynas’ existing operations in Morocco. The airline started flying between Jeddah and Casablanca in 2023 and currently operates three weekly flights on that route.
Flynas has also been expanding rapidly. In the first half of 2024, it carried more than seven million passengers, a 47% increase compared with the same period a year earlier.
