Riyadh Air Mastercard partnership marks a groundbreaking alliance that brings together payments, travel, and technology to reshape how people and businesses experience global travel. Announced on February 5, 2026, this strategic collaboration positions Saudi Arabia at the forefront of global travel evolution through innovative consumer products, premium airport experiences, and next-generation B2B travel payments.
Riyadh Air Mastercard Partnership Introduces Digital-First Payment Solutions
As the new national carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air is launching Mastercard-branded credit and prepaid cards designed to turn everyday spending into extraordinary travel rewards. The cards will allow cardholders to earn flights, upgrades, lifestyle rewards, and exclusive experiences, all seamlessly embedded within the Riyadh Air ecosystem. Set to roll out to Saudi residents in late 2026, these digital-first cards will be fully integrated into the Riyadh Air mobile app, enabling guests to apply, activate, manage features, and track rewards effortlessly in one place.
“This partnership reflects Mastercard’s role in creating meaningful solutions, paving the way for smart, secure and seamless payments. 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.”
Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, President, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard
Global-First Virtual Card Program for Travel Trade
Extending beyond the guest experience, Riyadh Air has become the first airline globally to introduce an airline-branded virtual card program for travel trade settlements. Through this streamlined payment solution, travel intermediaries worldwide will benefit from improved efficiency, security, and reconciliation while unlocking new growth opportunities across the travel value chain. This innovation modernizes B2B transactions in the aviation industry and sets a new standard for travel trade payments.
“Our deep collaboration with Mastercard clearly 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. We are fortunate to be in a highly unique situation where we can implement many different solutions at the same time, from integrated payments and rewards to premium airport experiences and innovative virtual payment solutions.”
Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Riyadh Air
Joint Center of Excellence for Travel Innovation
To foster a culture of learning, experimentation, and innovation, Mastercard and Riyadh Air will establish a joint center of excellence. This platform will design, test, and scale new solutions, leveraging disruptive technologies and real-world use cases. Focusing on agentic innovation, shared data insights, and upskilling the next generation of talent, the hub will enable both companies to respond rapidly to market needs and drive sustainable growth in the travel sector.
Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision as Global Travel Hub
As demand for travel to and from Saudi Arabia accelerates—driven by economic diversification, infrastructure investment, and tourism growth—this alliance supports the Kingdom’s momentum by modernizing financial flows and enhancing the end-to-end travel experience. According to Mastercard’s Travel Trends Report 2025, Riyadh is experiencing a sharp surge in passenger traffic, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s accelerating emergence as a global travel and business hub. Strategic investments are fueling job creation and business mobility, while world-class tourism and leisure infrastructure is reshaping the Kingdom’s appeal for international travelers.
The comprehensive partnership includes multiple elements across enterprise, brand, consumer, and guest experience, making it one of the most extensive airline-payment provider collaborations in the industry. With no legacy programs in place, Riyadh Air is uniquely positioned to jointly create an extensive financial and payment ecosystem that is unprecedented from day one, setting new benchmarks for the global aviation industry.
