Uganda exports to Saudi Arabia get boost as Flynas introduces first direct cargo service between Entebbe and Riyadh

April 2, 2025 in Business, Companies, Trade & Industry, Transport by Editor

Saudi Arabian budget carrier Flynas (IATA Code: XY) has launched the first direct air cargo service between Uganda and Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The service which is available three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays provides 2 tons of cargo capacity on very flight, opening a faster way for exports of Ugandan perishables such as fresh fruits, vegetables as well as chilled fish and general cargo.

According to a schedule published by Jet Fresh Cargo (the appointed Cargo GSSA for Uganda), the outbound flights duration is 4hours and 40 minutes and will depart Entebbe at 04.20am local time and arrive in Riyadh at 9.00am local time. Shippers can book space up to 4pm on the day preceding the flight while packages with a maximum dimension of 120x160cm can be accepted.

Uganda exported USD8.18 million of goods to Saudi Arabia, with the main products being fish fillets ($3.81 million), coffee (USD1.37 million), and tropical fruits (USD644,000). Other exports were edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers at US703,510, dairy products, eggs, honey, edible products at USD536,630; and edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit, melons at USD352,430.

Conversely Saudi Arabia’s exports to Uganda, while worth USD417 million in 2023, actually represented a negative trend, having fallen from USD607 million in 2018, at an annualized rate of 7.24pc.

While still in single digits, the 5 -year trend shows a lot of potential for growth. OEC figures show that over the past 5 years, Uganda’s exports to Saudi Arabia have increased at an annualized rate of 10.3pc, rising from USD5 million in 2018 to USD8.18 million in 2023.

According to Jet Fresh Cargo CEO Mr Wail Dagash, the availability of a direct flight to Riyadh, is likely to support a rapid increase in Uganda’s exports of chilled fish and other perishables to Saudi Arabia.

“Trade logistics out of a landlocked country like Uganda can be time-consuming and costly, especially for perishable items. A direct flight, which in this case adds 6 tons of capacity weekly, will reduce the cost of freight for exporters. On the other hand, consumers in Saudi Arabia will appreciate the freshness of the product and demand more of Ugandan fish and vegetables,” Mr. Dagash explained.

Although consignments of perishables will initially be limited to Riyadh and Jeddah, transshipments of general cargo to destinations beyond Riyadh will be accepted.

flynas launched services to Entebbe earlier this year, with the inaugural flight departing King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh on January 15, arriving at Entebbe International Airport at 3.30 am on January 16, 2025.

Launched in 2007, the airline has fast risen to become the leading low-cost carrier in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), with 1500 weekly flights spread across 139 routes; of which 70 are domestic, while the rest are to international destinations in 30 countries.

Flynas, has been recognized as the World’s fourth-best low-cost carrier and the best in the Middle East by Skytrax, and has also won the Middle East’s Leading Low-Cost Airline award from the World Travel Awards.