Riyadh Air to target Chinese travellers with Huawei partnership

Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has signed an MoU with Huawei to integrate the tech giant’s digital capabilities across the traveller journey and sharpen its focus on the high‑value Chinese market. 

Riyadh Air, which will begin commercial operations in early 2026, is positioning itself as one of the world’s most digitally advanced airlines, supported by its ability to build systems from scratch without legacy constraints. The partnership is designed to accelerate that strategy, enhancing how guests discover, book and experience the airline through a next‑generation digital ecosystem. 

The collaboration will roll out in phases, with an initial focus on China and other priority international markets, underpinned by Huawei’s cloud, AI and mobility solutions to enable personalised, data‑driven engagement at every stage of the trip.

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​​The agreement will also tap into the tech giant’s strong position in its home market, where around 20% of smartphone users in China are on Huawei devices, according to TechInsights, equating to roughly 200 million users. With mainland China home to more than one billion smartphone users, that represents more than three times the combined population of the GCC states.

Globally, Huawei devices have more than 730 million monthly active users, giving Riyadh Air a powerful platform to build tailored campaigns, drive app adoption and localise digital services for key source markets. By leveraging Huawei’s ecosystem, the airline aims to deliver the kind of mobile‑first, highly personalised experience Chinese travellers increasingly expect.