Qatar Airways Unlocks North-Central Saudi Arabia with New Hail International Route

January 5, 2026 at 10:20 PM•3 min read

Qatar Airways officially launched three weekly flights between Doha (DOH) and Hail International Airport (HAS) on January 5, 2026, marking its 13th Saudi destination and boosting

Key Points

1Qatar Airways launched three weekly flights to Hail International Airport (HAS) on January 5, 2026, making it the 13th destination in Saudi Arabia.
2The new service increases Qatar Airways' weekly flight count to over 150 across the Kingdom, reinforcing its regional network commitment.
3The expansion supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which targets 330 million annual passengers and over $100 billion in aviation infrastructure investment.
4The route, likely operated by an Airbus A320, connects Hail's cultural and heritage sites to Qatar Airways' global network of over 170 destinations.

Doha-based Qatar Airways has significantly expanded its footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On Monday, January 5, 2026, the airline inaugurated its new service to Hail International Airport (HAS). This launch establishes Hail as the carrier’s 13th Saudi destination.

The new route operates three non-stop weekly flights from the airline's hub, Hamad International Airport (DOH), in Qatar. This strategic addition underscores the airline's focus on the growing Saudi market.

New Route Details and Connectivity

The new DOH to HAS flights run every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. The schedule is designed to maximize passenger connection times through the Doha hub. This service is set to provide a major regional connectivity boost.

Travelers from Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia now have easier access to Saudi Arabia’s north-central region. With the addition of Hail, Qatar Airways now operates over 150 weekly flights across its Saudi network.

Fleet and Service

For its regional operations, Qatar Airways typically deploys its narrow-body fleet. The Airbus A320 regional fleet is the likely aircraft type for the new route.

This jet offers a two-class configuration, balancing capacity with passenger comfort for the short-haul flight. The airline, recognized as the World's Best Airline by Skytrax in 2025, connects passengers to over 170 destinations globally.

Strategic Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030

The Qatar Airways Saudi Arabia expansion aligns directly with the Kingdom's ambitious economic strategy. The new route supports the Vision 2030 aviation strategy to diversify the economy.

Saudi Arabia is investing over $100 billion in its aviation infrastructure. The goal is to position the Kingdom as a major global aviation hub.

Market Growth and Tourism

Industry data highlights the rapid growth of the Saudi aviation sector. Between January and September 2025, Saudi airports handled 103.1 million passengers. This represents a 9% increase over the previous year.

The addition of Hail helps open a new gateway for cultural and adventure tourism. Hail Province is known for its rich heritage and UNESCO-listed rock art sites. Boosting access to these non-traditional tourism sites is a key part of the Kingdom's strategy.

Opportunity: The new route capitalizes on the massive passenger traffic targets of 330 million annually by 2030.
Impact: It strengthens the Hamad International Airport hub by feeding traffic into its global network. The service provides crucial international access for the north-central region.

This expansion confirms the strong demand for air travel between Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It also signals a commitment to developing regional air access across the Middle East. For more commercial aviation news and analysis, visit flying.flights.