Tag Archives: Jeddah

SAUDIA has added 20 flights between Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Red Sea destination during Eid Al-Fitr, in cooperation with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and the Red Sea destination, as part of a partnership aimed at promoting tourist destinations and supporting the development of the Kingdom’s tourism sector. This brings the total number of flights in both directions to 44.The long-term partnership between SAUDIA and STA aims to provide suitable flight options and a distinctive onboard experience, supporting the Kingdom’s goal of attracting 150 million tourists by 2030.

AMAL by Malaysia Airlines will resume normal operations to Jeddah (JED) and Madinah (MED) effective 8 March 2026, following a brief period of limited service due to regional airspace closures. Meanwhile, services to Doha (DOH) will remain suspended until 13 March 2026 as the airline continues to assess the security situation. Passengers are advised to update their contact details via ‘My Booking’ for timely updates. Assistance is also available via Live Chat support available on the website or contact the Malaysia Airlines Global Contact Centre at 1 300 88 3000 (within Malaysia) or +603 7843 3000 (outside Malaysia). Malaysia Airlines continues to closely monitor developments and will take all necessary measures to ensure safe and reliable operations. The safety of passengers and crew remains our highest priority.

The celebration comes as the Kingdom’s tourism sector advances in line with Saudi Vision 2030, positioning tour guides as central to presenting historical, cultural, and natural assets with knowledge and professionalism. Jeddah marked International Tourist Guide Day with 281 male and female tour guides from across the Kingdom participating in events organised by the Tour Guides Cooperative Society. (SPA) The programme highlighted the historic Hajj route and the city’s heritage landmarks, underscoring the profession’s growing relevance amid Saudi Arabia’s tourism expansion. The event brought together guides representing various regions of the Kingdom to commemorate International Tourist Guide Day, launched in 1990 by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. The programme introduced participants to the historic Hajj route and key heritage sites in Jeddah, reinforcing their role in interpreting destinations for visitors. International Tourist Guide Day aims to highlight the tourist guide’s role as an ambassador of their country and culture, while raising awareness of the profession’s contribution to enriching the visitor experience. It also promotes sustainable tourism development and recognises guides’ efforts in showcasing national identity and human heritage.  

Al Qimmah Hospitality, a subsidiary of BinDawood Investment, and Marriott International announced the signing of five new hotel projects, further strengthening their shared commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing tourism sector. Plans include the addition of over 2,700 new rooms in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, under four of Marriott’s renowned brands – JW Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Element Hotels and the anticipated entry of Four Points Flex by Sheraton in the Kingdom. Dr. Abdulrazzaq BinDawood, Chairman of Al Qimmah Hospitality, commented: “We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with Marriott International through the addition of these five projects to our portfolio. Our continued investments in the Kingdom’s hospitality sector reflect our confidence in Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading tourism destination. These new hotels respond to the growing demand for accommodation and underscore our ongoing commitment to enhancing travel experiences for local, regional, and international travelers, further solidifying the Kingdom’s standing as a global tourism hub.” “We look forward to building on our relationship with Al Qimmah Hospitality and BinDawood Investment and supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious tourism vision by delivering world-class hospitality experiences that celebrate the country’s rich culture and dynamic growth,” said Karim Cheltout, Senior Vice President – Development, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “While we continue to see opportunities to diversify our footprint across all segments, the signing of our first Four Points Flex by Sheraton marks an exciting milestone, and we see strong potential to further grow our midscale brands across the Kingdom.” Marriott recently celebrated a milestone of 100 combined open and pipeline hotels in Saudi Arabia. The company been operating in the Kingdom for over four decades and today has 44 properties and …

flyadeal is launching five routes from Madinah, its newest operational base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The introduction of scheduled flights to Sabiha Gökçen in Istanbul and four domestic cities of Abha, Al Hofuf, Jazan and Tabuk, takes the number of flyadeal destinations from Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport up from three to eight. Until now, flyadeal had served Dammam, Riyadh and the Egyptian capital Cairo from the Holy city. The capacity hike represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of flyadeal operated flights out of Madinah to 88 a week, giving customers greater travel options. Two aircraft are now permanently positioned at the airport, which joins flyadeal’s three other operational bases of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. To mark the expansion, airport officials joined flyadeal management led by Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Rogier van Enk, for a fanfare of engaging activities celebrating with passengers. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve steadily built capacity from Madinah, but this expansion of five new routes at the beginning of the year is a statement of intent from flyadeal to develop Madinah into one of our key operational bases. “Having aircraft positioned in Madinah gives us the flexibility to quickly upgrade with more frequencies or add routes to a schedule which will continue to be built up giving our customers more choices and convenience of direct flights to travel within the Kingdom and beyond. Madinah was a natural addition as a base given its prominence as the second holiest city in the Islamic world and key gateway for pilgrims.” The expanded schedule supplements flyadeal’s dedicated year-round Umrah flights from several countries direct to Madinah, north of the Saudi port …

flynas celebrated the launch of its direct flights between Jeddah and Moscow, effective 23 December. This launch further strengthens air connectivity with the Russian capital in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program, as part of flynas’ growth and expansion plan and in alignment with the Kingdom’s national objectives in the tourism and aviation sectors. The inauguration ceremonies for the new route were held at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, where passengers on the inaugural flight were welcomed with commemorative gifts. Upon the aircraft’s arrival at Vnukovo International Airport, an official reception ceremony was held for the flight, marking the first direct route linking Jeddah and Moscow. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Moscow, flynas, the Russian Tourism Authority, and Vnukovo Airport. flynas will operate three weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, becoming the first Saudi carrier to operate scheduled flights between the two cities. This follows the launch of the first regular direct flight between Riyadh and Moscow by a Saudi airline in August, operating four weekly flights between the two capitals. The airline remains committed to further expanding its destinations and routes to provide more reliable and convenient travel options for its guests, as part of its efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries. This expansion in the Russian aviation market aligns with flynas’ growth and expansion strategy launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom. It also supports the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to enable national air carriers to connect the Kingdom of …

Air India Express has announced new direct flights from Bengaluru to three major Middle East destinations: Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Services to Jeddah will begin on 26 October, followed by Riyadh and Kuwait on 27 October 2025, strengthening links between South India and the Gulf region. The new routes cater to Indian expatriates, business travellers, families, and pilgrims travelling for Umrah, providing convenient and time-saving options. Inaugural fares start at Rs 13,500 (505 SAR) for Bengaluru-Riyadh, Rs 19,500 (570 SAR) for Bengaluru-Jeddah, and Rs 13,600 (27 KWD) for Bengaluru-Kuwait. Passengers from cities including Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchirappalli can connect to these Middle East destinations via Bengaluru. This expansion reinforces Air India Express’ growing footprint in the Gulf, complementing its existing services to Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Jeddah, Kuwait, and Riyadh, and highlights the airline’s commitment to enhancing trade, travel, and cultural connectivity between South India and the Middle East.  

flynas has announced the launch of a new route connecting Jeddah and Moscow, starting 23 December 2025, in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program. The move aligns with flynas’ growth and expansion plan and supports the Kingdom’s strategic objectives in tourism and aviation. The airline will operate three weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah) and Vnukovo International Airport (Moscow), expanding reliable travel links between Saudi Arabia and Russia. This follows flynas’ successful launch of scheduled flights between Moscow and Riyadh in August, marking a continued commitment to enhancing international connectivity. The new route forms part of flynas’ “We Connect the World to the Kingdom” initiative, supporting the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to connect Saudi Arabia with 250 international destinations, accommodate 330 million passengers, and host 150 million tourists annually by 2030. The expansion also complements the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP), facilitating smoother access to the Two Holy Mosques and enriching the travel experience for visitors. With this addition, flynas strengthens its position as a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, providing convenient, reliable, and strategically aligned international travel options for passengers and tourists alike.