Saudia named Best Cabin Service in the Middle East
Another reason to be proud of one of the Kingdom’s national carriers
For many travellers in Saudi Arabia, flying with Saudia is simply part of the journey. Whether it’s a quick hop to AlUla, a summer holiday abroad, or a long-haul flight across the globe, the airline remains one of the Kingdom’s most recognisable brands.
Now, it has picked up another accolade to add to its growing collection.
Saudia has been named Best Cabin Service in the Middle East at the 2026 APEX Awards, an international aviation awards programme based on verified passenger feedback.
What makes the recognition particularly notable is that it comes directly from travellers themselves. More than one million flights across more than 600 airlines were assessed as part of this year’s awards, with passengers rating everything from cabin service and seat comfort to food and beverage offerings, in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity.
The award recognises the work Saudia has been putting into enhancing the overall passenger experience in recent years. Frequent flyers may already have noticed some of the changes, from refreshed service standards to a greater focus on showcasing Saudi hospitality on board.
According to Saudia, initiatives such as the New Saudia Experience and its Saudia BEYOND programme have been introduced to create a more consistent service culture across its network while continuing to showcase the warmth and hospitality for which Saudi Arabia is known.
The latest win comes as Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in tourism, aviation and connectivity under Vision 2030. With more visitors arriving in the Kingdom than ever before, the onboard experience has become an increasingly important part of the journey.
For Saudia, this latest recognition suggests that passengers are taking notice.
Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, described the award as a tribute to the airline’s cabin crew and their commitment to delivering a high standard of service on every flight. He added, “As we continue to invest in the guest journey, our focus remains on delivering an experience that is thoughtful, reliable, and distinctly Saudia.”
Established in 1945, Saudia has grown to become one of the Middle East’s largest airlines. The airline serves an extensive global route network covering around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 26 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia.
Saudia was recently named “Best Airline Staff Service” for 2025 by Skytrax and ranked 17th in the global airline rankings. It was also recognised as a “World Class Airline 2024” for the third consecutive year and awarded “Best in Class for Service & Guest Experience 2025” by APEX. In addition, Saudia ranked first globally for on-time performance (OTP), according to Cirium.
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