Cathay Pacific confirmed on 5 July that it will restart its Hong Kong–Dubai service (daily) and Hong Kong–Riyadh service (four-weekly) from 1 September 2026. Tickets went on sale on 2 July, giving companies two full months to re-programme travel budgets and travel-management-company (TMC) inventories before the routes relaunch. The Middle East connections were suspended in 2020 and—despite Cathay’s progressive network rebuild—remained on ice while the carrier prioritised North-Asia and long-haul North-America recovery. Their return is strategically timed: foreign direct investment flows between Hong Kong and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have risen 42 % year-on-year, and Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing will open its new representative office in Riyadh in the autumn. For corporates with regional hubs in Hong Kong, the nonstop schedules trim at least four hours off typical one-stop routings via Bangkok, Doha or Singapore. Operationally, Cathay says it will initially roster Airbus A350-900s featuring its latest Regional Business Class cabin. The airline continues to waive change and refund fees on all existing Middle-East bookings to preserve passenger flexibility while geo-political tensions persist. Cargo belly-hold capacity—critical for the city’s re-export trade in electronics and time-sensitive fashion—will increase by up to 120 tonnes per week once both routes are fully online.
![Cathay Pacific to resume Dubai and Riyadh flights from 1 September 2026]()
Companies looking to ensure their travellers have the correct entry documents for Dubai, Riyadh or any of the onward destinations served via these hubs can streamline the process through VisaHQ. The platform’s Hong Kong portal provides real-time visa requirements, e-visa applications and courier services, giving travel managers a single dashboard to track approvals and minimise last-minute surprises.
Travel-management advisers recommend firms review their travel policies to ensure the Middle-East is unblocked in their global distribution systems; many companies hard-coded temporary black-outs for Dubai and Riyadh after 2020. Human-resources teams with assignees heading to Saudi Arabia should also note that the Kingdom’s e-visa on arrival scheme for Hong Kong passport holders remains in force and processing times average under five minutes. By resuming direct links to two of the region’s fastest-growing commercial hubs, Cathay is signalling that its network rebuild is entering a new phase—one focused on future growth, not just post-pandemic restoration. Analysts expect additional announcements for Tel Aviv and Nairobi before the end of the year if demand projections hold.
Companies looking to ensure their travellers have the correct entry documents for Dubai, Riyadh or any of the onward destinations served via these hubs can streamline the process through VisaHQ. The platform’s Hong Kong portal provides real-time visa requirements, e-visa applications and courier services, giving travel managers a single dashboard to track approvals and minimise last-minute surprises.
Travel-management advisers recommend firms review their travel policies to ensure the Middle-East is unblocked in their global distribution systems; many companies hard-coded temporary black-outs for Dubai and Riyadh after 2020. Human-resources teams with assignees heading to Saudi Arabia should also note that the Kingdom’s e-visa on arrival scheme for Hong Kong passport holders remains in force and processing times average under five minutes. By resuming direct links to two of the region’s fastest-growing commercial hubs, Cathay is signalling that its network rebuild is entering a new phase—one focused on future growth, not just post-pandemic restoration. Analysts expect additional announcements for Tel Aviv and Nairobi before the end of the year if demand projections hold.
