After a twelve-year hiatus following the suspension of its direct flight Saudi service in 2014, Singapore Airlines has officially confirmed its return to the Kingdom.
Originally pulled due to low demand for the route at the time, for over a decade, travellers seeking connection between the Kingdom and Singapore were pushed towards navigate time-consuming layovers in regional hubs such as Dubai or Doha. But the era of layovers and multiple connecting flights is set to end on June 1, 2026.
The revived route reflects a surging demand for connectivity between the Kingdom and the Far East, partly fuelled by Saudi Arabia’s growing positioning as a hub for entertainment and luxury stays, and Singapore’s position as a premier global financial centre and vacation destination. In a statement announcing the return of direct connectivity between the two cities, Mr Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Commercial Officer of Singapore Airlines said “Our return to Riyadh comes amid its thriving business environment and ambitious development, which make it one of the Middle East’s most dynamic cities.”
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The Details
Singapore Airlines will operate the direct route between Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Singapore's iconic Changi Airport (SIN), using its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 Medium Haul aircraft.
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According to the statement released by Singapore Airlines on Monday February 2, 2026, this Airbus type features a configuration of 303 seats in total, across just two cabin classes: Business and Economy. The service, operating four times weekly between the two destinations will feature 40 Business Class seats, and 263 Economy seats.
Riyadh will be the second destination for the SIA Group in Saudi Arabia, adding to low-cost carrier Scoot’s four-times weekly flights to Jeddah.
Singapore (SIN) to Riyadh (RUH) - SQ498 - 18:20 Tues, Thurs, Sat & Sun
Riyadh (RUH) to Singapore (SIN) - SQ457 -23:00 Tues, Thurs, Sat & Sun
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Visa-Free Travel: What You Need to Know
For Saudi Arabian nationals planning a visit to the "Garden City," the travel process has become significantly more streamlined in recent years.
- Visa: Since 2023, Saudi citizens and passport holders do not require a traditional visa to enter Singapore for social visits of up to 30 days.
- The SG Arrival Card: While visiting Singapore is visa-free, all travellers — including Saudis — must submit an electronic SG Arrival Card (SGAC) with a health declaration via the official Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website within three days prior to arrival.
- Biometric Entry: Since late 2023, Singapore has moved toward passport-less, biometric clearance at Changi Airport for all departing and arriving travellers, making the arrival process for Saudi tourists one of the fastest in the world.
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Note: The SIN-RUH flight departs Singapore on Monday, June 1, 2026, with the first return leg from Riyadh on the morning of June 2.
