MATARAT Holding has signed a memorandum of understanding with SITA to accelerate the digital transformation of airports across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The agreement will focus on deploying smart, scalable technologies that enhance passenger experience, streamline operations and increase airport efficiency as Saudi Arabia pushes forward with its aviation modernisation plans.
“This Memorandum of Understanding with SITA underscores our unwavering commitment to leveraging cutting-edge digital solutions that enhance operational efficiency and elevate the travel experience across all our airports,” noted MATARAT’s senior vice president of digital and technology, Yaagoub AlNujaidi.
SITA has a strong track record in Saudi Arabia, having implemented biometric self-service systems at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, and enabling the Kingdom’s first fully biometric journey at NEOM Bay Airport through its Smart Path solution.
Its systems are also in place across major airports in Jeddah, Dammam, and Riyadh, as well as at 22 regional airports in Cluster 2.
The ultimate aim of a biometric journey through an airport is to provide a seamless and secure user experience, leveraging advanced technologies to capture, authenticate, and verify individuals through unique biological traits such as facial recognition or fingerprints.
This, says SITA, will ensure fast, frictionless access across digital and physical touchpoints.
“Saudi airports are growing fast, and with that comes complexity,” said Selim Bouri, SITA’s president for the Middle East and Africa at SITA. “We are proud to work alongside MATARAT Holding to bring in the right digital tools that keep operations smooth and passengers moving effortlessly.”
The collaboration supports Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a global aviation hub capable of handling 330 million passengers annually and connecting to more than 250 destinations worldwide.
The Kingdom’s airports are supervised by MATARAT Holding, which oversees the operations of 27 airports through its subsidiaries — Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2.
MATARAT’s mission is to develop the country’s airports and improve their performance in line with the Saudi Aviation Strategy, itself a key part of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030.