Useful picks for short business trips from Saudi Arabia (nearby countries: GCC, Levant, Egypt, Turkey, eastern North Africa). I’ve focused on reliability, frequency of short‑haul services, business‑class / lounge experience and regional connectivity.

Top choices

• Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) — Best for fast regional connections from Riyadh/Jeddah/Dammam, high frequencies and very good punctuality. Good lounges and business‑class options for short hops. Saudia ranks among the region’s most punctual carriers. (visualcapitalist.com)

• Oman Air — Very strong on punctuality and reliability (often top of regional OTP lists). Good product on short regional services and a comfortable transit experience at Muscat for onward connections. Great choice when flying to/from Oman or using Muscat as a hub. (aviationweek.com)

• Qatar Airways — Excellent onboard service and lounges at Hamad International; frequent short flights across the Levant, GCC and Egypt with consistent business‑class comfort even on short sectors. Good for one‑stop connections where direct flights aren’t available. (visualcapitalist.com)

• Emirates / flydubai (Dubai pair) — Emirates offers a premium experience and extensive schedules (good for Dubai hub connections); flydubai complements with many direct regional routes and frequent schedules on short sectors (cost‑effective). Choose Emirates for a premium ground/ lounge experience, flydubai for convenient direct short hops. (cntravellerme.com)

• Etihad and Gulf Air — Strong full‑service options from Abu Dhabi and Bahrain respectively; useful for certain GCC/Levant routes and competitive business products on short flights. Etihad offers good lounge/transfer facilities at AUH. (cntravellerme.com)

• Low‑cost regional alternatives (Air Arabia, flynas, Air Cairo, Jazeera) — If price and frequency matter more than lounges/flat beds, these carriers offer many short nonstop options across neighbouring countries. Good for quick, no‑frills business hops if you don’t need lounge access or checked‑bag flexibility. (Compare baggage and PNR change rules before booking.)

Why these choices

• Punctuality matters most for short business trips — regional carriers such as Oman Air and Saudia frequently top punctuality rankings in the Middle East, reducing risk of missed meetings. (aviationweek.com)
• Frequency and direct routes — pick carriers with many daily flights on your route: fewer connections = less chance of delays and easier same‑day turnarounds.
• Ground experience (lounges, fast check‑in) — full‑service Gulf carriers (Saudia, Qatar, Emirates, Etihad, Oman Air) provide business facilities that make short trips much smoother.

Quick practical tips for short business hops

• Prioritise direct flights or a single short connection (avoid multi‑leg routings).
• Book refundable/changeable fares or add flexible options if schedules may shift.
• Use frequent‑flyer status or buy lounge access for productive time between flights.
• Check on‑time stats for the specific route and recent months (some airlines are more punctual on certain city pairs). Recent regional on‑time reports show variability month‑to‑month, so check latest OTP for your route before booking. (oag.com)

If you want, I can:

• Compare 2–3 specific city pairs (e.g., Riyadh→Dubai, Jeddah→Cairo, Riyadh→Doha) and show the best carriers by price, flight time and recent punctuality; or
• Suggest the best choice depending on whether you prioritise cost, speed, or comfort.