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A Saudi Arabia Airport Bags The Best Airport Award In The Middle East For Best Passenger Experience

Najran International Airport wins the ASQ Award for best airport in the Middle East, proving Saudi Arabia’s aviation push is winning over travellers.

by Deeplata Garde
A Saudi Arabia Airport Bags The Best Airport Award In The Middle East For Best Passenger Experience

Saudi Arabia has been shouting pretty loudly about its tourism game, and truth be told, the results are starting to show. The Kingdom isn’t just opening its doors wider to travellers, it’s making sure those doors lead into smooth, memorable journeys. Case in point? Najran International Airport has just bagged the Best Airport in the Middle East award at the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. 

Najran International Airport Wins ASQ Award: What Sets It Apart From The Rest

Now, this isn’t just another shiny trophy on a shelf. Najran International Airport topped the best airport in the Middle East list in the category of airports serving fewer than two million passengers a year. That’s no easy category to dominate, especially when you’re up against other regional contenders. The airport clocked in with a seriously impressive rating of 4.68 out of 5.

If you’re thinking, “Well, what about the competition?”, Salalah Airport in Oman also snagged recognition in the same bracket. Still, Najran’s achievement stands tall as it reflects years of effort by its operator, Cluster2, to nail passenger experience down to the smallest details.

Recognition On A Global Stage

The award wasn’t handed out at some local conference either. It came straight from the Airports Council International (ACI) in Guangzhou, China, a heavyweight authority in aviation circles. And here’s the kicker: the ACI bases its awards on passenger surveys, not just glossy brochures or airport PR campaigns. In practice, that means actual travellers rated their experience highly enough to push Najran to the top.

That kind of feedback is gold. After all, anyone can claim to offer world-class service, but when passengers back it up, that’s the real stamp of approval.

Riyadh Joins The Winners’ Club

It’s not just Najran flying the Saudi flag high. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH) has also been bagging awards. According to the 2025 AirHelp Score, RUH rocketed from 33rd to 3rd place worldwide. Yes, worldwide. RUH has the second-highest ranking with the score of with a score of 8.47. It’s now the second-highest ranked in the Middle East and among the top global airports. 

The Riyadh airport is planning an expansion, providing more services, sleeker facilities, which will turn the city into a hub for international travel and trade in the Middle East. 

Also Read: CT Quickies: Gulf Air Flights To El Alamein To Qatar’s Hayya 2.0 Platform; 10 Middle East Updates for you

To Sum It Up

So, what sets Saudi Arabia’s airports apart right now? A blend of ambition, heavy investment, and, most importantly, listening to what passengers actually want. Najran’s award is proof that even smaller airports can punch above their weight when the experience is done right.

Come on, we all know, happy travellers are the best advertisement any country can get.

Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/ Aflo Images from アフロ（Aflo）

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First Published: September 17, 2025 10:44 AM