Dhaka, Nov. 4 -- Delta Air Lines Inc. plans to start a direct flight from its Atlanta hub to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in late 2026, the airline said.

The announcement was made by Delta Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian during the State of the Region breakfast hosted by the Atlanta Regional Commission last week, according to media.

In a follow-up news release, Delta said the route will be the first direct service from the United States to Saudi Arabia, a nation of roughly 36 million people that has emerged as a hub for technology, smart cities, and increasingly, artificial intelligence.

The country is pursuing the Vision 2030 plan, which aims to drive growth through technology, diversifying the economy away from energy. Fintech, a key sec...