Saudi budget carrier flynas has launched a direct service between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, providing Kenya’s capital with a non-stop link to the Gulf.
The route targets the Kenyan and wider East African diaspora community in Saudi Arabia - one of the largest in the Gulf region - alongside business travellers, Umrah and Hajj pilgrims travelling via Riyadh, and leisure travellers moving in both directions.
What this changes for passengers
Previously, travellers between Nairobi and Riyadh connected through Dubai, Doha, or Addis Ababa, adding a minimum of three to four hours to the journey. The direct flight cuts this to approximately five and a half hours block time. flynas operates as a value carrier, meaning fares are positioned competitively against the full-service Gulf carriers that have dominated the Nairobi–Arabian Peninsula corridor.
The service complements existing full-service routes and offers a lower-cost entry point for passengers whose primary destination is Riyadh rather than a Gulf hub.
What Nairobi travellers should know
Saudi Arabia operates an eVisa system for most international passports. Kenyans travelling to Saudi Arabia should verify current requirements before booking, as visa conditions for Kenyan passport holders can change. The process is handled online through the Saudi Visa Platform.
Passengers transiting Riyadh onward to Mecca for Umrah need a separate Umrah visa in addition to the standard entry visa.
Exploring Kenya from Nairobi
For visitors arriving into Nairobi from the Gulf, Kenya’s main attractions are its wildlife reserves. The Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, and Samburu are all accessible as day trips or short fly-in packages from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
We’ve put together a guide to the best tours and activities out of Nairobi for visitors building an itinerary from the capital, and a broader overview of Kenya’s Big Five wildlife experiences for those planning a safari.
The launch reflects continued growth in direct air links between East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, with Nairobi establishing itself as one of Africa’s most connected aviation hubs.