Canada expands air transport agreements with Saudi Arabia & UAE

An expanded air transport agreement between Canada and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is expected to make way for more passenger and cargo flights.

Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, and Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, made the announcement Monday (Dec. 1).

The expanded agreements come following successful negotiations at the International Civil Aviation Organization's 17th annual Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2025), hosted this year by the Dominican Republic.

The expanded Canada–Saudi-Arabia Air Transport Agreement includes:

• Up to 14 passenger flights per week per country, up from four.
• Unlimited all-cargo flights, up from three weekly per country.
• Open fifth-freedom rights for all-cargo services, which allow an airline to carry passengers or cargo between two foreign countries on a flight that begins or ends in its home country.

Building on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to the UAE where more direct commercial flights between both countries were announced, the expanded Canada–United Arab Emirates Air Transport Agreement includes:

• An additional 14 passenger flights per week per country, for a total of 35 per country
• Unlimited all-cargo flights, up from four weekly per country.
• Open fifth freedom rights for all-cargo services.

Airlines can begin offering services under these expanded agreements immediately.

"These expanded air transport agreements are a win for Canadian workers, businesses, and travellers alike,” said Minister MacKinnon in a press release. “By opening the door to more flights, more competition, and more global connections, we are strengthening our ties with key partners, creating new opportunities for trade diversification, and giving Canadians more affordable options to see the world.”

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are two of Canada's largest and fastest growing air transport markets in the Middle East.

In 2024, Saudi Arabia was Canada's largest merchandise trading partner in the Middle East.

Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Saudi Arabia in 2024 was valued at approximately $4.1 billion: $2 billion worth of exports from Canada and $2.1 billion worth of imports to Canada.

In 2024, Canada's two-way merchandise trade with the UAE was valued at $3.4 billion, with $2.6 billion in exports and $800 million in imports.