Saudi Arabia launched its second national carrier Riyadh Air after more than a year of delays on Wednesday, defying the economic turmoil triggered by the Middle East war and strong competition from established Gulf airlines. A London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Riyadh Air's white and lavender livery took off at 2:30am (2330 GMT Tuesday), putting in motion a flagship project in Saudi Arabia's push to reduce its economic reliance on oil.

Riyadh Air launches daily Dubai–Riyadh flights from June 18, 2026 on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, boosting Gulf connectivity and premium travel options for UAE passengers

Three years after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Riyadh Air (RX), the airline has taken delivery of its first three custom-built