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Big news for anyone tired of layovers: Singapore Airlines is finally cutting them out for flights between Singapore and Riyadh.
From June 2026, you can catch SQ498 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 6.20pm Singapore time, touching down in Saudi Arabia’s capital in less than 9 hours. The return flight, SQ499, departs Riyadh at 11pm local time on the same day. The aircraft? A medium-haul Airbus A350-900 with 303 seats – 40 in Business and 263 in Economy.
This change didn’t come out of nowhere. SIA’s chief commercial officer, Lee Lik Hsin, frames Riyadh as more than just a new pin on the map. With its buzzing business scene and fast-changing skyline, it’s one of the Middle East’s most exciting places to visit right now. For travellers, there’s plenty to see and do – historic landmarks like Diriyah and Masmak Fortress sit alongside swanky hotels, world-class museums, and shopping and dining that could easily fill a weekend.
With this, Riyadh is now SIA Group’s second stop in Saudi Arabia, sitting nicely with Scoot’s four-times-weekly flights to Jeddah. Tickets are expected to roll out progressively through SIA’s usual channels, subject to regulatory approval. So, if you’re serious about hopping on, it’s time to start planning.
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