DAMMAM- Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia (SV), is set to introduce a new nonstop connection between Dammam and London Heathrow beginning November 2025. The move fills a longstanding service gap between the two cities.
The new service also brings the number of Saudi destinations served non-stop from London to five. Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Neom Bay, and now Dammam will see non-stop flights. This development comes in response to growing demand for direct connectivity between the UK and Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Dammam is a key center for oil, gas, and industrial activity. This new service is particularly significant because Dammam was London’s largest unserved Middle Eastern market in 2024.
Photo: Birmingham AirportSaudia London to Dammam Flight
On November 5, 2025, Saudia will begin direct flights between Dammam and London Heathrow. The route marks the fifth Saudi city directly linked to London, following Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, and Neom Bay.
Dammam was London’s largest unserved Middle Eastern city in 2024. Dammam had an estimated 73,000 round-trip passengers, based on data cited by Simple Flying. Of these, 85% routed through Heathrow, primarily relying on one-stop connections via Gulf carriers and European airlines.
Most of them traveled via indirect routes. With an average one-way fare of over $1,200 from Heathrow, the Dammam-London corridor has long shown high yield potential, especially since Dammam is a key city in Saudi Arabia, just like Jeddah and Riyadh. The new direct link will also support strong cargo demand between the two cities.
The schedule for the route is as follows:
- SV117: Dammam (DMM) 16:00 → London Heathrow (LHR) 20:30 (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays)
- SV118: London Heathrow (LHR) 22:15 → Dammam (DMM) 07:55+1 (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)
Saudia has not yet confirmed the equipment type, but the Boeing 787-9 is likely to be deployed.
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsUK–Saudi Market after New Dammam Service
Saudia is entering an increasingly competitive space. The UK–Saudi market has seen substantial growth in recent years, with several carriers now operating frequent services. Saudia itself runs up to 22 weekly flights to Riyadh, 16 to Jeddah, and 2 to Neom Bay.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also maintain a solid presence, offering 13 and 7 weekly services to Riyadh, respectively. Meanwhile, Wizz Air has expanded aggressively. The airline will introduce low-cost flights to Jeddah and Medina from London Gatwick using its fuel-efficient Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
Aircraft like the Airbus A321XLR are playing a key role in expanding the network, which otherwise would not have been possible with traditional narrow-body airplanes. With longer range and better fuel efficiency, these jets allow low-cost carriers like Wizz Air UK to expand to distant destinations.
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsBottom Line
The new London–Dammam route should not be surprising, as it is a response to strong passenger demand in the sector. The average one-way fares show that there are high-yielding travelers who travel to Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Saudia will also set another record of serving 4 destinations from Saudi Arabia to London. Could Wizz Air’s new flights to Medina induce Saudia to look into this sector as well? This could potentially prompt Saudia to introduce competitive pricing on the route as well.
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