Riyadh Air has signed a strategic agreement with Saudi fintech firm Barq to develop a comprehensive payment technology solution for the airline, the companies announced on August 11, 2026.

The long-term partnership will support Riyadh Air's commercial operations through an integrated, secure, and scalable payments ecosystem. Under the agreement, Barq will help Riyadh Air develop payment capabilities for the full payment lifecycle, which the companies say will improve the guest experience and strengthen regulatory compliance, fraud prevention, and operational efficiency.

The deal positions barq as Riyadh Air's strategic payment technology partner. The two companies will work together on implementation, integration, and ongoing platform enhancement, aiming to improve transaction success rates and give passengers flexible, secure payment options across all channels. Both companies described the collaboration as reflecting a shared commitment to advancing Saudi Arabia's digital economy and supporting the objectives of Vision 2030.

Faisal Al-Bisher, Chief Partnerships Officer at barq, said the partnership "underscores barq's commitment to driving digital innovation through strong strategic alliances. " He added: "By combining our payment expertise with Riyadh Air's vision, we are creating frictionless financial journeys for global passengers while advancing the Kingdom's Vision 2030 digital economy goals."

Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Riyadh Air, said the agreement "strengthens the financial and operational foundation for our payment ambitions," adding that the collaboration "will help us build an efficient, innovative payment infrastructure designed to scale with our growth while maintaining the discipline and resilience our commercial operations require." He called it an important step in delivering a payment ecosystem that supports the airline's long-term plans.

Source: PR