On Aug. 22, Singapore and Saudi Arabia signed a new aviation agreement which will allow any number of air services to operate between Singapore and Dammam.

With the new deal, airlines may operate up to 14 services between Singapore and other points in Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah and Riyadh, according to a statement from the Singapore Transport Ministry.

Airlines of both countries have also been granted permission to operate services between the other country and selected cities in third countries with 5th freedom air traffic rights.

Under the previous agreement, carriers were only allowed to operate three weekly services between Saudi Arabia and Singapore.

Singapore Airlines currently operates three weekly services from Singapore to Jeddah via Abu Dhabi, while Saudi Arabian Airlines operates two weekly services from Jeddah to Singapore via Riyadh.

The new agreement to expand air services comes following air services consultations between the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia and Singapore's Transport Ministry, held from Aug. 21 to Aug. 22.

The Singapore delegation leader, Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Transport, said in the statement: "Increased air services would encourage greater people-to-people interaction and support the growth of economic linkages between the two countries."