Tag Archives: Riyadh

SAUDIA has launched its seasonal flights to Phuket, marking its second destination in the Kingdom of Thailand after the capital, Bangkok. Musaed Almusaed, Assistant Vice President, International Regions at SAUDIA, stated: “SAUDIA has scheduled flights between Jeddah, Riyadh, and Phuket, offering 12 weekly flights in both directions. We are committed to enhancing our competitive position and expanding our reach to new destinations, whether scheduled or seasonal. This aligns with the unprecedented and fundamental development of our services, aimed at enriching the travel experience at all stages and exceeding our guests’ expectations.” SAUDIA operates flights to over 100 destinations across four continents, leveraging its current fleet of 144 diverse Boeing and Airbus aircraft. With plans to add 130 new aircraft, SAUDIA aims to expand seating capacity and increase the frequency of flights to existing destinations while also reaching new international markets, contributing to the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 by bringing the world to the Kingdom.

Emirates has introduced Chauffeur-Drive Services (CDS) in Riyadh, further elevating the travel experience for discerning premium passengers arriving at and departing from King Khalid International Airport. Emirates customers travelling in First and Business Class will enjoy a stress-free, comfortable journey with a door-to-door experience that reflects the airline’s exceptional onboard experience and premium services. First and Business Class customers can request for CDS on any of the airline’s three daily flights to and from Riyadh. The exclusive service is complimentary for customers within a 100-kilometre radius of the airport. Excess Mileage will apply for areas beyond the served radius*. Emirates Chauffeur-Drive Services are currently offered in over 70 cities within the Emirates’ network. Emirates’ Chauffeur-Drive service can be booked through Manage My Booking option on www.emirates.com or Emirates’ call centres as well as through travel agents. Bringing a new level of comfort and luxury to Saudi Arabia. Emirates’ recent investments in its operations to the Kingdom underpin the airline’s commitment to bringing a new, heightened level of service and hospitality, both in the air and on the ground, for customers flying to and from one of Emirates’ most important markets globally.This includes a new dedicated lounge at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The US$5.4 million, 900-square-metre lounge located in the airport’s newest Terminal 1 welcomes 190 guests at any one time, with seating tailored to the needs of business and leisure travellers. In early October, Riyadh became Emirates’ first GCC destination to welcome the airline’s refurbished Boeing 777, offering passengers an all-new Business Class cabin and highly acclaimed Premium Economy seats. The four-class Emirates Boeing 777 offers 24 Premium Economy seats, giving customers the opportunity to treat themselves to a more spacious seat …

SAUDIA announced the addition of Phuket to its seasonal destinations, making it the second city in Thailand to join its network, following the capital, Bangkok. This expansion aligns with SAUDIA’s strategic objective to broaden its international flight network and bring the world to Saudi Arabia, leveraging its young fleet and enhancing its global competitive advantage. SAUDIA will commence flights to Phuket on 2 December 2024, offering 12 weekly round trips from Riyadh and Jeddah combined. Bookings will be available through SAUDIA’s website and mobile app. Operational preparations are currently underway at Phuket International Airport to ensure an exceptional service and seamless experience for all guests. The airline will deploy its state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the routes between the Kingdom and Phuket. These Dreamliners are equipped with spacious seating, advanced inflight entertainment systems catering to diverse guest preferences, and other premium onboard services designed to enhance the travel experience.

Cathay Pacific announced the launch of direct passenger flights to Riyadh  from 28 October 2024, further enhancing connectivity, trade and cultural exchange between its home hub, Hong Kong, and countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. Cathay Pacific marked the announcement with a signing ceremony in Hong Kong, attended and witnessed by Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung, Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Hong Kong SAR, Hamad Aljebreen, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam and Saudi Air Connectivity Program Chief Executive Officer Majid Khan. The agreement was signed by Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau, and Saudi Air Connectivity Program Aviation Development Vice President Rashed Alshammari in the presence of distinguished guests from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung said: “The signing of the cooperation agreement marks a significant milestone for the already prospering aviation partnership between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia developed for almost two decades. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Cathay Pacific for their unfaltering support to the Government’s policies and for considering Hong Kong’s strategic development needs in their network planning. “The Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to strengthening aviation services on current major routes and routes along the Belt and Road with potential. Following Cathay Pacific’s initiative to commence services to Riyadh, we will be able to expand Hong Kong’s aviation network and enhance air connectivity between us and the Middle East, which further consolidates Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.” Consul General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Hong Kong SAR Hamad Aljebreen said: “The inauguration of this route is a …

King Salman International Airport is to become a hub for tourism, travel and transportation in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In keeping with Vision 2030 the airport development company is partnering with leading local and international companies in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, and air traffic management. Mr. Marco Mejia, Acting CEO of King Salman International Airport Development Company, stated: “We are committed to delivering an airport which will be seen as the benchmark in the world of aviation. It will provide the national and international connectivity the city of Riyadh needs to meet and drive the business, trade and tourism growth set out in Vision 2030. These four firms will work alongside the Saudi and international talent we have brought together, they will be an essential addition to our team as we build King Salman International Airport, creating a new passenger experience.” King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC), one of Public Investment Fund’s companies, announced the signing of strategic partnership contracts with four leading local and international companies in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, and air traffic management. This partnership aims to start a new phase to develop King Salman International Airport (KSIA) to become a hub for tourism, travel and transportation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the wider region. The award-winning architecture firm (Foster + Partners) will design the airport’s master plan covering a total area of 57 square kilometres, which includes several terminals, six runways, and a multi-asset real estate area. The airport’s design will capture Riyadh’s essence and reflect Saudi culture, providing a unique travel experience for visitors and travellers. While the international engineering firm (Jacobs), will provide specialist consultancy services for the airport’s …

Emirates announced plans to introduce its newly retrofitted Boeing 777s to two more cities – Zurich and Riyadh from 1 October 2024*. The airline will also layer on refurbished B777s to Geneva and Brussels operations, making them the first two cities in the airline’s network to sport refreshed B777 cabins on all flights. The airline aims to offer customers more of its highly acclaimed Premium Economy product and newly configured Business Class cabin on the Boeing 777 in the coming weeks and months. Emirates’ enhanced B777s will operate as follows: To Zurich, Emirates will operate its retrofitted Boeing 777 on EK 85 and EK 86 starting from 1 October 2024*. Emirates’ enhanced Boeing 777 featuring its latest cabins will also land in Riyadh for the first time, as EK 819 and EK 820 from 1 October 2024*. This will be the first debut of Emirates’ Premium Economy in the Middle East/GCC. From 22 September 2024*, Geneva will become the first city in the Emirates network to offer Premium Economy seats and newly refreshed Business Class cabins on all flights, with the introduction of the retrofitted B777 on EK 89 and EK 90. From 9 October 2024*, Emirates will operate its second retrofitted B777 to Brussels on EK 181 and EK 182 six times weekly. With an expanded list of cities served by both the refurbished Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft, Emirates is providing customers more choice and a better experience in the skies across every cabin class. The airline plans to serve 28 cities with Premium Economy by the end of this year. So far, 25 aircraft have been retrofitted, with 17 more aircraft to undergo a facelift by December 2024. The …

Lumi has partnered with CarTrust , a pioneering Auto-Tech company in Saudi Arabia that specialises in car inspection and delivering detailed examination reports for used car sales. The partnership aims to enhance user experience for Lumi’s used car sales customers and increase their confidence in buying cars that have been inspected by a well-known third party provider in the field. As part of the new partnership, CarTrust will inspect Lumi’s used fleet vehicles that are for sale. During Phase 1, CarTrust will inspect a total of 1600 cars and aim to certify 9000 vehicles by the end of 2024. Lumi’s new procedure will ensure that sales activities run smoothly, whether through financing companies or banks. Suliman Alrobish, UCS Director, Lumi, said; “Lumi’s used car sales segment has been an integral part of the company’s ambitious growth strategy and our collaboration with CarTrust will go a long way towards elevating customers’ confidence and trust in our well-maintained fleet of vehicles. We have always placed great premium on ensuring a seamless and quality experience for our customers and by aligning ourselves with a digital platform, we will no doubt be able to add more value to our services.” Ammar Toonsi, Founder and CEO, CarTrust added; “This partnership represents an important step in our CarTrust journey and assures our ongoing commitment to providing the best services to our customers. The combination of CarTrust’s expertise in vehicle services with Lumi in delivering these services aims to enhance the quality of the used car market in the region.” One of the leading service providers in Saudi Arabia, CarTrust specialises in digital vehicle inspections and evaluations tech platforms using artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision …

New Murabba Development Company unveiled the design of New Murabba Stadium, an architectural marvel with a capacity of over 45,000. The stadium will be a central pillar of “New Murabba” the transformative downtown destination in Riyadh City. The stadium will feature cutting-edge sporting technology, creating an immersive and personalized fan experience. The stadium will be a vibrant community hub featuring illuminated entry points and shaded spaces for gathering and socializing. Inspired by the layered overlapping planes and peeling planar texture of the native Acacia tree, the New Murabba Stadium’s design is a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation that defines New Murabba.  “The New Murabba Stadium embodies our commitment to transforming Riyadh into a global destination for sports and entertainment,” said Michael Dyke, CEO of New Murabba Development Company. “The stadium will not only be a world-class venue for sporting events but also a vibrant community hub that enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.” The New Murabba Stadium is strategically positioned to enhance community engagement. Its design maximizes long-term usability, allowing it to be adapted to host a wide range of events beyond sports, gaming competitions, and exhibitions. “The New Murabba Stadium is a symbol of Riyadh’s dynamic future. It demonstrates our commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure and experiences that will captivate both local communities and global audiences,” said Dyke. With completion anticipated by the end of 2032. This venue promises to become a symbol of Riyadh’s transformation, attracting tourists, fostering community spirit, and solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader in sports and entertainment.

Saudia Group, through Saudia and flyadeal, announced the addition of 8 new daily flights from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam to Abha. This strategic move underscores the Group’s dedication to bolstering domestic tourism and aligning with the Saudi Tourism Authority’s efforts to promote Abha as a premier destination during “Aseer Season” and “Saudi Summer” campaigns. Saudia has increased its daily flights to Abha from 14 to 19, marking a notable 35.71% growth. Additionally, flyadeal has expanded its daily operations from 14 to 17 flights, reflecting a 21.42% increase. These enhancements are made possible through a modern and efficient fleet of 176 aircraft. This expansion is a key part of Saudia Group’s commitment to supporting Saudi Vision 2030, aimed at diversifying the Kingdom’s tourism offerings and attracting global visitors. By increasing flight frequencies and seat capacity, Saudia Group seeks to meet the rising demand for travel, further enriching the domestic tourism experience. Saudia Group remains dedicated to strengthening its role in national tourism programs and fostering partnerships that bring the world closer to the Kingdom.

flynas celebrated its first direct flight between Riyadh and El-Alamein International Airport on the north coast of Egypt recently adding the Mediterranean city to its list of summer destinations with scheueled flights for the first time in the region, further expanding tourist destinations options for flynas guests through its ever-growing international network. The outbound flight departed King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh after an inaugural ceremony attended by representatives from flynas and KKIA. It arrived at El-Alamein International Airport (DBB) at 5:30 PM to a welcoming ceremony attended by representatives from flynas, DBB, and other stakeholders in Egypt. flynas already connects the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with more than 120 weekly direct flights, and the operation of direct flights to DBB will make El-Alamein the fifth destination in Egypt, served by direct flights from flynas. The leading LCC operates direct flights from 5 Saudi cities, namely Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al-Ula, to Cairo, Sohag, Sharm El-Sheikh, and Hurghada. The Egyptian capital of Cairo is connected to the Kingdom with direct flights to Cairo International Airport and Sphinx International Airport. Passengers traveling with flynas can book their flights through all flynas booking channels: www.flynas.com, the flynas app, the call centre (920001234), or travel agents. flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 78 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.