Riyadh Air has entered into a strategic partnership with Mastercard to integrate payments, travel and technology, with the aim of enhancing both consumer and business travel experiences across Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving aviation sector.
As a new airline without legacy infrastructure, Riyadh Air is uniquely positioned to design and deploy a fully integrated financial and payment ecosystem from the ground up. Through the collaboration, the airline will introduce a range of consumer payment solutions, premium airport services and B2B travel payment capabilities.
A key element of the partnership is the launch of Riyadh Air-branded Mastercard credit and prepaid cards for Saudi residents, expected in late 2026. The digital-first cards will be fully embedded within the Riyadh Air mobile app, enabling users to earn flights, upgrades and lifestyle rewards, access exclusive experiences, and manage payments and rewards tracking through a single platform.
“This partnership reflects Mastercard’s role in creating meaningful solutions, paving the way for smart, secure and seamless payments,” said Dr Dimitrios Dosis, President, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.
“Together with Riyadh Air, we are creating an integrated digitally-native ecosystem that delivers value at every touchpoint, for guests, travel agents, airlines and hospitality partners, while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global travel hub.”
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, added:
“Our deep collaboration with Mastercard reflects not only our commitment to be a digital native airline but strong confidence in our future trajectory. It allows us to build a travel experience that is seamless, digital and distinctly differentiated.”
Beyond consumer payments, Riyadh Air will also roll out an airline-branded virtual card programme designed to streamline travel trade settlements. The solution is expected to improve efficiency, security and reconciliation processes for travel intermediaries worldwide.
In addition, Mastercard and Riyadh Air plan to establish a joint centre of excellence to co-develop and test new payment and travel solutions, leveraging shared data and emerging technologies to drive innovation across the travel ecosystem.
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