Riyadh Air and Mastercard Forge Strategic Alliance to Launch ‘Digital-First’ Payment Ecosystem

Riyadh Air and Mastercard have announced a strategic alliance to build a “digital‑first” travel payments ecosystem that includes co‑branded consumer cards and what the partners describe as a “global‑first” airline‑branded B2B virtual card settlement solution for the travel trade. The agreement also commits the two companies to establish a joint Center of Excellence to design and test new payment solutions, leveraging shared data insights and so‑called “agentic innovation.” Consumer‑facing Riyadh Air‑branded Mastercard credit and prepaid cards are slated to roll out to Saudi residents in late 2026 and will be fully integrated into the carrier’s mobile app.

“We are fortunate to be in a highly unique situation where we can implement many different solutions at the same time, from integrated payments and rewards to premium airport experiences and innovative virtual payment solutions. This collaboration enables us to deliver exceptional journeys for our guests around the world,” said Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer at Riyadh Air.

What the partnership will deliver

• Consumer cards: Riyadh Air‑branded Mastercard credit and prepaid products, marketed to Saudi residents with an expected rollout in late 2026. The cards are designed as digital‑first products integrated into the Riyadh Air mobile app so customers can apply, manage features and track rewards such as flights and upgrades within a single interface.
• B2B virtual card programme: An airline‑branded virtual card solution for travel trade settlements that Riyadh Air says is a global first for an airline. The initiative aims to give travel agents and intermediaries streamlined reconciliation, enhanced security and operational efficiencies for supplier payments.
• Center of Excellence: A joint hub to design, pilot and iterate payment and settlement solutions using shared data and “agentic innovation,” enabling faster responses to changing market needs and potential extensions across travel and hospitality partners.

Dr. Dimitrios Dosis, president, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, framed the tie‑up as part of a broader push to digitise travel commerce: “Together with Riyadh Air, we are creating an integrated digitally‑native ecosystem that delivers value at every touchpoint—for guests, travel agents, airlines and hospitality partners—while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a global travel hub.”

The timing of the partnership positions Riyadh Air to capitalise on its status as a digitally native carrier with no legacy systems to overhaul; the company has described its situation as a “clean sheet” opportunity to build a modern financial stack from the ground up. The collaboration also dovetails with wider national objectives: Mastercard’s Travel Trends Report 2025, cited by the partners, notes a sharp surge in passenger traffic through Riyadh as the Kingdom develops its tourism and transport infrastructure under Vision 2030.

Looking ahead, Riyadh Air and Mastercard will use the joint Centre of Excellence to pilot the new products and refine workflows for both consumer and travel‑trade use cases. With a consumer card launch planned for late 2026 and B2B settlement solutions presented as market firsts, the alliance aims to reshape how payments and rewards are embedded across the passenger journey and into the broader travel ecosystem.