Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Hail, increasing daily services to Jeddah and Riyadh/Representative Image
Qatar Airways is strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia with new flights to Hail and additional services to Jeddah and Riyadh, reflecting the airline’s commitment to regional connectivity and growing passenger demand. The expansion, effective January 5, 2026, will make Hail the 13th Saudi city served by the airline and further enhance links to its global hub in Doha.
Expanding reach across Saudi Arabia
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng Badr Mohammed Al Meer, announced the airline’s latest expansion during his panel discussion, “Tourism Rising: A New Era of Influence and Impact,” at the TOURISE Summit 2025 in Riyadh.Al Meer highlighted the airline’s growing footprint across the Kingdom, stating that Qatar Airways now spans all major regions of Saudi Arabia. Over the past 12 months, the airline has transported nearly 2.5 million passengers in the Kingdom, demonstrating strong trust in its services.“This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to the Saudi market,” Al Meer said. “We continue to focus on enhancing regional connectivity to meet growing demand across business, leisure, and religious travel segments.”
New hail route and flight details
Starting January 5, 2026, Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Hail (HAS), operating on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday:
| Flight Number | Route | Departure | Arrival |
| QR1228 | Doha (DOH) → Hail (HAS) | 14:20 | 16:30 |
| QR1229 | Hail (HAS) → Doha (DOH) | 17:30 | 19:25 |
This route adds Hail as the airline’s 13th Saudi destination, complementing existing services to major cities. Qatar Airways has also increased flights to Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) from six to seven daily flights, further improving accessibility for travellers.The new route follows several recent network expansions in 2025, including the resumption of flights to Abha and the launch of services to The Red Sea in October, making Qatar Airways the first international carrier to connect The Red Sea to over 170 global destinations.
Comprehensive connectivity and benefits
With Hail included, Qatar Airways’ Saudi network now covers 13 cities with over 150 weekly flights, connecting travellers to more than 170 global destinations via its Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The airport has been recognized as the Best Airport in the Middle East for 11 consecutive years and World’s Best Airport in 2021, 2022, and 2024 by Skytrax.Members of the Qatar Airways Privilege Club can earn Avios not only on flights but also through shopping and dining at Qatar Duty Free in Hamad International Airport. These points can be redeemed for travel, lifestyle rewards, and unique experiences through the Privilege Club Collection.Through this expansion, Qatar Airways reinforces its reputation as a global leader in air connectivity, providing enhanced access to destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Bookings for the new Hail route are now available via qatarairways.com or the airline’s mobile app. Go to Source
