ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, Saudia, has opened its first office in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi announced on Thursday, expressing hope that the move would improve travel facilities for residents of the region.
Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia every year, with many visiting the Kingdom to perform Hajj and Umrah.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has also expanded its focus on international tourism, promoting destinations including Riyadh, Jeddah, Taif, Qiddiya, AlUla and the Red Sea as part of its efforts to establish itself as a leading global tourism destination.
It was a pleasure to jointly inaugurate the first Saudi Airlines office in KP with Saudi Ambassador H.E. Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Malkiy. This marks an important step in improving travel services for the people of our province and reflects the enduring friendship between Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/cgPgavC0Tp
— Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) July 16, 2026
Established in 1945, Saudia is Saudi Arabia’s first and oldest airline and remains a key component of the Kingdom’s aviation sector. The airline also supports Saudi Arabia’s wider economic diversification strategy under Vision 2030, which aims to reduce dependence on oil and develop sectors including tourism, transport, and aviation.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy, inaugurated Saudia’s new office in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The opening reflects the longstanding and close friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
“This inauguration of the Saudia office marks an important step towards improving travel services for the people of our province,” Governor Kundi said in a post on X on Thursday.
In May, Saudia was ranked the world’s most punctual airline for both departures and arrivals, according to a report by aviation analytics firm Cirium, cited by the Saudi Press Agency.
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The recognition came after Cirium named Saudia the second-most punctual airline globally for arrivals in 2025, further strengthening the carrier’s position among the industry’s top-performing airlines.
Commending Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy for his role in taking Saudi-Pakistan relations to “new heights”, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi stressed the importance of establishing a Saudi consulate in Peshawar to provide greater facilitation to the people of the province.
“I look forward to further deepening this valued partnership for the benefit of our people,” the governor said.
