Pakistan, June 10 -- Saudi Arabia launched its new national carrier Riyadh Air on Wednesday after more than a year of delays. The airline began operations despite ongoing Middle East tensions and regional economic uncertainty. The launch marks a key step in Saudi Arabia's efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil.

The inaugural London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Riyadh at 2:30am local time. The flight represents the first operation of Saudi Arabia's second state-owned airline. Moreover, the project aims to transform Riyadh into a global aviation hub competing with Dubai.

Riyadh Air is backed by the Public Investment Fund as part of Vision 2030 reforms. The airline has ordered more than 130 Boeing aircraft and additional ...