Is Saudi Arabia ready to compete with the air hubs of the UAE and Qatar?

They are beautiful, large and rather majestic in their architecture. The two hubs of the national airline Saudia have, on the surface, nothing to envy their regional competitors, those of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha or Dubai. And yet they are, great disappointment for all passengers transferring between Saudi Arabia's two main airports. The hubs at Riyadh and Jeddah are far from offering the minimum level of comfort expected of a hub.

The range of services, shops and entertainment is more akin to that which existed in Soviet bloc airports in the 1980s. A singular situation, given that Saudia is now seeking to adopt the same strategy as Emirates or Qatar Airways: that of become a matchmaking company. A situation that the authorities should quickly take into consideration. The disillusionment is all the greater given the high standard of service on board Saudia.

Riyadh, an airport with a desert feel

Saudia's aircraft in Riyadh use Terminal 4, linking the hub to 70 destinations, including Geneva, Paris-CDG, Nice (during the summer) and Casablanca. Via the airport, European passengers can travel to the Middle East, India, South East Asia and China. Riyadh airport, officially King Khalid International Airport, has welcomed more than 30 million passengers in 2023.

Quite grandiose, the terminal offers practically nothing, either in terms of services or entertainment. There is a small Al Fursan lounge for business passengers, while a second one is also available in terminal 5 for domestic flights. There are a few duty free shops. But they are of little interest, offering a very limited choice. There are also a dozen restaurants, most of them fast-food outlets.

"Not so bad", many transit passengers will think, if there were internet access and places to relax and be alone. That's where the problem lies. Free wifi is only available if you have a local telephone number to receive authorisation by text message, which is almost impossible in correspondence. As for places to rest or work, this is a notion to be forgotten. The lack of services extends to the absence of water fountains for refreshment. But the restaurants offer free... hot water! The only distraction left is hanging around the airport until the next flight boards.

Jeddah, to be admired for its architecture

Opened in stages between 2018 and 2019, Terminal 1 at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport will surprise visitors by its grandiose volumeswith its slender arches. The airport handles almost 43 million passengers in all its terminals, including those for pilgrims from Mecca. Terminal 1 alone, with its 810,000 m², can handle more than 30 million passengers a year and serves as a hub for Saudia flights. The airline links Jeddah to almost 90 destinations, with flights to Geneva, Paris-CDG, Algiers, Casablanca and Tunis in particular. Passengers can also travel to the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent, South-East Asia and Beijing.

The very beautiful architecture of the terminal, one of the largest in the world, nevertheless represents the only interest platform. It doesn't offer much in the way of services. Around a large central square, there are a few mediocre duty-free shops, three or four fashion and souvenir shops and the inevitable fast-food chains. Compared with Riyadh, Jeddah has a few fresh drinking water fountains (at gates 32A and 42A). However, the same worries apply to the Internet. It is only available if you have a telephone number from a Saudi operator.

Yet Terminal 1 is a little more user-friendly than its counterpart in the Saudi capital. Passengers can watch the constant stream of aircraft on the tarmac from their reclining seats scattered along the boarding piers.

While Saudi Arabia certainly has the potential to turn Riyadh and Jeddah into real hubs, the country needs to think beyond investing in its infrastructure. Service, lifestyle and a warm welcome from local staff are just as important - perhaps even more so - than grandiose airport terminals. Saudi Arabia is still a far cry from the facilities offered in the Emirates or Qatar. As for business travellers in transit in Jeddah and Riyadh, it's best to take along some reading material or record films to watch offline!