Saudia has been recognised with the 2026 APEX Award for Best Cabin Service in the Middle East, adding another international accolade to the Saudi national carrier’s growing list of achievements. The award was presented during the APEX Awards ceremony held in Dublin, Ireland as part of the Future Travel Experience (FTE) EMEA event.
The recognition is based on independently verified passenger feedback collected through APEX’s global airline ratings programme. More than one million flights across over 600 airlines were assessed for the 2026 awards, covering categories such as cabin service, seat comfort, food and beverage, inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi connectivity.
For Saudia, the award reflects its ongoing investment in elevating the onboard guest experience.
“This award is a tribute to Saudia’s cabin crew, whose professionalism, warmth and attention to detail define the onboard experience for our guests every day,” said Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia.
He added that the recognition reflects the airline’s commitment to delivering authentic Saudi hospitality with greater consistency across its international network while continuing to invest in every stage of the guest journey.
The achievement builds on several initiatives introduced by the airline, including the rollout of the New Saudia Experience and the launch of Saudia BEYOND, a service excellence programme designed to strengthen hospitality standards among frontline staff. According to the airline, these initiatives aim to improve service consistency while showcasing Saudi hospitality throughout the travel experience.
Founded in 1945, Saudia now operates a fleet of 149 aircraft serving around 100 destinations across four continents, including all 26 domestic airports in Saudi Arabia. The airline is a member of both the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) and the SkyTeam global airline alliance.
The latest award follows several recent recognitions for the airline. Saudia was named Skytrax’s Best Airline Staff Service for 2025, recognised as a World Class Airline 2024 by APEX for the third consecutive year, received APEX’s Best in Class for Service and Guest Experience 2025, and was ranked first globally for on time performance by Cirium.