Riyadh Air and Mastercard redefine the global travel experience

Riyadh Air and Mastercard today announced a strategic alliance that combines payments, travel, and technology to redefine how people and businesses experience global travel. With no legacy loyalty programs or legacy systems to weigh it down, Riyadh Air is uniquely positioned to build an extensive financial and payment ecosystem from the ground up. The collaboration introduces a broad set of innovations spanning consumer payments, premium airport experiences, and a new generation of B2B payments in the travel industry, positioning Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the global travel evolution.

As the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, strongly focused on the digital native model, Riyadh Air will launch branded credit and prepaid Mastercard cards under the airline's brand as part of the partnership.

The cards are designed to turn everyday spending into unique travel experiences. Users will be able to earn flights, upgrades, lifestyle rewards, and access to exclusive experiences, fully integrated with the Riyadh Air ecosystem. The digital cards, which are scheduled to be rolled out to Saudi Arabian residents by the end of 2026, will be fully integrated with the Riyadh Air mobile app, allowing for easy application, activation, feature management, and rewards tracking in one place.

"This partnership reflects Mastercard's role in creating real value through smart, secure, and seamless payment solutions," said Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, President Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Mastercard. "Together with Riyadh Air, we are building an integrated, digitally native ecosystem that delivers value at every stage—for passengers, travel agents, airlines, and hospitality partners—while strengthening Saudi Arabia's position as a global travel hub."

"Our deep collaboration with Mastercard clearly demonstrates not only our ambition to be a fully digital airline, but also our strong confidence in our future growth path," emphasized Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air. "This gives us the opportunity to build a travel experience that is seamless, digital, and distinctly different. We are in a unique position to implement multiple solutions simultaneously—from integrated payments and rewards programs to premium airport experiences and innovative virtual payment solutions. This collaboration allows us to deliver exceptional travel experiences to guests around the world."

The collaboration also extends beyond the passenger experience. Riyadh Air has become the first airline in the world to introduce a branded virtual card program for settlements in the travel trade sector. This simplified payment solution will enable travel agents around the world to achieve greater operational efficiency, security, and easier reconciliation, while opening up new growth opportunities for the entire travel industry value chain.

To foster a culture of learning, experimentation, and innovation, Mastercard and Riyadh Air will establish a joint center of excellence. This platform will serve to design, test, and scale new solutions based on breakthrough technologies and real-world business scenarios.

By focusing on agent innovation, joint data analysis, and the development of the skills of future generations of talent, the center will enable both partners to respond quickly to changing market needs.

With demand for travel to and from Saudi Arabia on the rise—fueled by economic diversification, infrastructure investment, and rapid growth in tourism—this partnership supports the pace of the country's transformation by modernizing financial flows and enhancing the end-to-end travel experience.