Saudi airports awarded customer experience accreditation, elevating travel services

The airports were acknowledged for their ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional services for travelers. Shutterstock 
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Updated 12 May 2024
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Saudi airports awarded customer experience accreditation, elevating travel services

RIYADH: Customer service offerings at 16 Saudi airports have been recognized with a prestigious global award.

The Airports Council International’s Customer Experience Accreditation for 2024 has recognized facilities operated by the Kingdom’s Cluster2 Airports Co., which include Abha International Airport, Al-Jouf Airport, and Al-Qurayyat Airport.  

Additionally, they consist of Bisha Airport, Dawadmi Airport, and Hail International Airport, as well as King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Airport, and Najran Airport. 

“This accomplishment is not merely a testament to the quality and efficiency that we deliver; it also underscores our persistent dedication to enhancing the journey of each customer who passes through our gates,” the company said in an X post.

The ACEA program assists airports in enhancing customer experience management by guiding them through a comprehensive review and training process, which emphasizes stakeholder and employee engagement, as well as staff development, according to its website.

Other airports to receive this accreditation include Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Airport, and Rafha Airport.

Moreover, they include Sharurah Airport, Taif International Airport, Turaif Airport, and Wadi Al-Dawasir Airport.

The achievement of these airbases is a testament to the robust support and consistent oversight provided by the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the company, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

These airports have been acknowledged by ACI for their ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional services for travelers. 

Ali Masrahi, CEO of Cluster2 Airports Co., expressed his satisfaction with this achievement, emphasizing the company’s focus on three key areas: understanding customer needs, strategic planning tailored to traveler requirements, and continuous improvement through monitoring key performance indicators across all aspects of the passenger.

Masrahi emphasized his company’s dedication to excellence and improving the airport travel experience.

The company added in its post that three of its airports received the same accreditation in 2023: “Today, we are proud to witness this number grow to encompass more of our airports, marking a remarkable achievement that underscores the progress and development we aim to accomplish.”

The firm further explained that obtaining accreditations from the ACI is the outcome of the team’s persistent efforts and unwavering dedication to ensuring an unforgettable travel experience.

ACI’s first Asia-Pacific and Middle East office was inaugurated in Riyadh in September 2023. Saudi Arabia’s Transport Minister and General Authority of Civil Aviation Chairman Saleh Al-Jasser, dignitaries and top officials from 49 countries attended the event.

ACI is an organization of airport authorities that aims to unite industry practices for airport standards by working with governments, regional members, experts, and international groups.


Saudi mining sector surges with 220% rise in new licenses in 2025 

Updated 12 February 2026
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Saudi mining sector surges with 220% rise in new licenses in 2025 

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia recorded a 220 percent year-on-year increase in new mining exploitation licenses in 2025, issuing 61 permits, according to a statement from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. 

This reflects the attractiveness of the Kingdom’s mining investment environment and the ministry’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the exploration and development of mineral resources, which are estimated to be worth more than SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion), the ministry said in a statement. 

Saudi Arabia has designated mining as the third pillar of its industrial economy, a strategy that has seen the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product double, reaching SR136 billion in 2024. 

The industry has attracted over SR170 billion in investments, while exploration spending has surged fivefold since 2020, exceeding SR1.05 billion in 2024 alone. 

Investor interest has skyrocketed, with the number of active exploration companies rising from just six in 2020 to 226 in 2024 — a 38-fold increase — and foreign investors now accounting for 66 percent of total license bidders, reflecting strong international confidence in the Kingdom’s mining potential. 

Jarrah bin Mohammed Al-Jarrah, the ministry’s official spokesperson, explained that the number of mining and small-mine exploitation licenses issued by the ministry in 2025 reached 61 licenses, compared to 19 licenses in the previous year. 

He added: “Total investments in the new licensed projects exceed SR44 billion for the extraction of high-quality mineral ores, including gold and phosphate." 

He noted that the number of valid mining exploitation licenses in the Kingdom reached 275 by the end of 2025, covering an area of 2,160 sq. km. 

He affirmed that the ministry will continue enabling mining investments and facilitating local and international investor participation to maximize sector returns in line with Saudi Vision 2030 targets, positioning mining as a key contributor to economic diversification. 

The ministry’s release emphasized that this reflects the effectiveness of reforms implemented to strengthen the investment environment and regulate the mining sector. 

Last month, Saudi Arabia opened 11 mining sites at the Eastern Province’s Al-Summan Crushers Complex for competitive bidding. The sites, designated for the extraction of aggregates and crusher materials, cover a combined 9 sq. km.