Qatar Launches Airlift from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia
The Qatari Air Force has launched an airlift operation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Since 12 January, several military flights have been observed operating from Multan Airport in Pakistan to Sharorah in southern Saudi Arabia. The route is highly unusual, as it is not a regular civilian or commercial connection.
It is highly likely that military equipment is being transported to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi armed forces are engaged in operations in the region against rebels in Yemen, who are supported by the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are key military partners in this conflict zone.
In September 2025, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement. The pact commits both countries to provide military support in the event of external threats, and to deepen cooperation in training, intelligence sharing, logistics and joint exercises. The agreement formalised their long-standing defence relationship into a mutual security obligation.
Why Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are not using their own aircraft for this airlift remains unclear.
On 12 January, a Qatari C-17 transport aircraft (registration A7-MAO) flew from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to Sharorah and back. This flight may have carried ground personnel and handling equipment to prepare the operation.
On the same day, another C-17 (A7-MAP) flew from Al Udeid to Multan. Although Multan is a Pakistani air force base, the Qatari aircraft were handled on the civilian side of the airport. The following day, the aircraft continued to Sharorah before returning to the Dukhan air base in Qatar.
Also on 12 January, a third C-17 (A7-MAA) departed Al Udeid for Multan. On 13 January, C-17 A7-MAM flew from Multan to Sharorah.
On 14 January, C-17 A7-MAO again flew from Doha to Multan, then onward to Sharorah and back to Qatar. On 15 January, A7-MAA flew from Dukhan to Multan, continued to Sharorah, and then returned to Qatar.
After that, the operation appeared to pause for more than two weeks. On 2 February, C-17 A7-MAB resumed flights, operating from Multan to Sharorah and back to Dukhan. Just a few hours later, the same aircraft departed Dukhan once again for Multan, indicating that the airlift was continuing.
On Thursday February 5, C-17 A7-MAB flew from Mutan to Sharorah. This is flight number 8 since the start of the airlift. After landing at Sharorah the aircraft returned to Mutan.
On Friday February 6, C-17 A7-MAB flew from Mutan to Sharorah. This is flight number 9 since the start of the airlift.
Credits to Rich Tedd (@AfriMEOSINT on X) who reported first on these movements.
Photo by Laurent ERRERA via Wikimedia.
