Tag Archives: Jeddah

AROYA Cruises unveiled the first cruise ship in its fleet. With 19 decks and 1,682 elegant cabins, this grand ship will redefine Arabian holidays. The 335-metre-long ship is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment to tailor the ship to the highest standard in line with the taste of Arabian passengers. AROYA Cruises, the new Arabian cruise line operated by Cruise Saudi, a Public Investment Fund Owned company responsible for the development of Saudi’s cruise industry. With exceptional on-board service, an eclectic culinary offering, and a sensational activities program, guests aboard AROYA Cruises’ will enjoy a unique remarkably Arabian hospitality experience that reflects the warm and welcoming values of Saudi culture. Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, said: “We are delighted to sail into the new year with the unveiling of our first AROYA Cruises ship. This marks an exciting milestone for Cruise Saudi in creating a world-class cruise industry in Saudi, whilst offering a new way to holiday in the Kingdom for locals. We look forward to welcoming the first passengers on-board.” AROYA Cruises will set sail from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the establishment of Al Balad Development Company (BDC). The company will become the main developer of Jeddah’s historic Al Balad district, in line with the continuous efforts led by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz to revitalize Historic Jeddah to transform Jeddah into an economic hub, a global cultural and heritage destination, and a leading tourism destination, inspired by Jeddah’s rich history and contributing to the realization of Saudi Vision 2030. The company will focus on improving the district’s infrastructure, overseeing the restoration of historic buildings in Al Balad, and developing service facilities as well as recreational, residential, commercial, hotel and office spaces. The overall project development area will comprise approximately 2.5 million square meters, with a total built up area of 3.7 million square meters. This includes 9,300 residential units, 1,800 hotel units and around 1.3 million square meters of commercial and office space. The company will collaborate with the private sector and specialists to develop the area’s infrastructure according to the best standards of urban planning for historic areas, taking into account environmental sustainability and preserving the unique heritage of Historic Jeddah: a UNESCO World Heritage site. The aim is to transform it into a leading tourism destination that attracts visitors from around the world, thus contributing to economic development, with the company also working to offer attractive investment opportunities and quality commercial options for the people of Jeddah. BDC aims to provide a rich experience to explore the cultural and historic dimensions of the district, by providing an integrated environment that attracts residential, work, cultural and recreation development, contributing to quality of life and improving the visitor …

Nestled along the pristine shores of the Red Sea, the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Jeddah is set to welcome football enthusiasts from across the globe, as it gears up to host the iconic FIFA Club World Cup presented by Visit Saudi from 12 – 22 December 2023. The historic announcement comes ahead of the competition draw, which took place today the 5th of September – a pivotal event that will chart the potential paths to glory for participating teams, Al Ahly, Al-Ittihad, Auckland City, Manchester City, Leon, and Urawa Red Diamonds, as well as the CONMEBOL winners, which will be known on 4 November 2023. With Saudi team Al-Hilal reaching the semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2022, Saudi-based team, Al-Ittihad will be looking to repeat and build on the success of their countrymen as they welcome the 7-team tournament to Jeddah. As the most played and followed sport in the country, football holds a special place in the heart of Saudis, with levels of participation that continue to surge across all age groups. The country is also home to some of the most passionate football supporters on the planet, fuelled by the success of the men’s football team in Asia and a club fanbase infrastructure that rivals some of the largest leagues in the world. Over the past few years, Saudi has made historic strides in broadening female access and participation in football, establishing female football clubs, and promoting initiatives and incentives aimed at increasing female attendance at domestic and international football games. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has become a major global sports hub, with Jeddah at its heart, boasting a diverse cultural calendar, that includes events …

flynas announced the launch of direct flights connecting Bishkek and Osh in Kyrgyzstan and Almaty in Kazakhstan to Jeddah in addition to increasing the frequency of flights between Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and Jeddah, in line with the partnership agreement with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP).  This strategic collaboration between flynas and ACP, established in April this year, is a significant milestone in increasing the Kingdom’s tourism growth and strengthening the ties between Central Asia and Saudi Arabia. Starting on August 20th, flynas will commence direct flights from Osh, the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan. Subsequently, on September 2nd, the leading LCC will launch flights from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. These routes will operate with three weekly direct flights, resulting in a total of six weekly flights between the two cities. Additionally, flynas will further strengthen connectivity between Almaty and Jeddah, with the introduction of two weekly direct flights commencing from the 2nd of September. This expansion aligns with the Saudi ecosystem’s broader efforts to attract 100 million annual tourists to the Kingdom by 2030. Starting from August 20th, visitors from Tashkent can benefit from increased options as flynas enhances its offering with an upgrade to three weekly direct flights to Jeddah, building on the success of the route’s initial launch on September 14th, 2022. This milestone was made possible through the collaboration of a thriving domestic ecosystem and ACP’s expertise in developing robust air routes and ensuring their resilience. Currently, flynas operates an extensive network that spans over 70 domestic and international destinations, with a frequency of 1,500 weekly flights. Since its inception in 2007, flynas has flown over 60 million …

Air Astana has opened ticket sales for a new direct flight from Almaty to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, which will commence on 1st October 2023. Services will initially operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, with additional frequency to be introduced at a later date. The flight will depart Almaty at 18:40 and arrive in Jeddah at 22:30, with return flights at 23:30 and arrival in Almaty at 08:15. All times local. The duration of the flights will be 6 hours 50 minutes outbound and 5 hours 45 minutes inbound to Almaty. “Saudi Arabia has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, which will be interesting not only for the pilgrimage of Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, but also for tourists looking to visit cultural, historical and natural sites on the Red Sea,” said Adel Dauletbek, VP Marketing and Sales, Air Astana. “Passengers traveling to Jeddah are offered convenient connections from other cities in Kazakhstan, as well as from Tashkent, Dushanbe and Bishkek. We also expect tourists coming from Saudi Arabia to explore the natural beauty of Kazakhstan.” The cost of a round-trip economy ticket starts from US$734 and round trip business ticket starts from US$1584. Ticket booking for the new flight is now open on the airline’s website, at ticket sales offices, accredited agencies and in the Booking and Information Center.  Citizens of Kazakhstan need to obtain an e-visa prior to traveling to Saudi Arabia. Issued on behalf of Air Astana Group by Euro Asia Communications, Singapore

SAUDIA has launched its first direct flight to its new international destination Birmingham, United Kingdom in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP). The program was launched in 2021 to support tourism growth in the Kingdom by enhancing air connectivity and developing existing and prospective air routes, connecting Saudi Arabia to new destinations. Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Passenger Sales at SAUDIA said: “We are proud to be expanding our operations in the United Kingdom and continue to regularly offer new destinations to our guests. The United Kingdom is a very important destination for SAUDIA, and the launch of new direct flights to and from Birmingham highlights the strengthening of relations between our two countries. We’re also very grateful for the continuous support from the Air Connectivity Program, which enables us to continue to grow as we work towards our objective to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.” Sultan Otaify, Vice President of Strategy and Communication at ACP said: “In collaboration with ACP, SAUDIA has launched a direct flight to Birmingham, a city steeped in history and a renowned hub of the Industrial Revolution. As this new route becomes part of the growing air network facilitated by ACP, it significantly contributes to the flourishing tourism between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. It is through such bilateral initiatives that we witness the positive trajectory of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom’s relationship, as both countries strive to simplify and streamline travel processes. ACP is committed to empowering carriers in their efforts to unlock new destinations and travel experiences that showcase the rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions of Saudi Arabia.’’ The inaugural SAUDIA flight going from Jeddah to Birmingham (SV …

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and FIFA have confirmed that all matches during the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™ will take place in the city of Jeddah. The decision was made following a FIFA delegation visit to Jeddah to assess ongoing preparations for the tournament, which takes place from 12-22 December 2023. It will be the first time the FIFA Club World Cup™ is held in Saudi Arabia. Yasser Al Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said: “We are delighted that Jeddah, with its state-of-the-art facilities and reputation for hosting major international sports events, has been selected as host city for the FIFA Club World Cup. Sport is a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transformation under Vision 2030, which has established the Kingdom as one of the fastest growing and most exciting countries in world sport.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino (R) with Saudi Arabian Football Federation President Yasser Al Misehal during FIFA President Gianni Infantino visit to Paris Office on May 27, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julien Hekimian/FIFA) “We believe hosting international events like the FIFA Club World Cup provides an opportunity to grow the game further and inspire new and existing fans, while showcasing to the world Saudi’s hospitable culture and huge passion for football. Working closely with FIFA, we are ready to deliver an exceptional tournament and an unforgettable experience for players and fans.” The FIFA delegation visit included detailed inspections of key infrastructure including the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium and the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, as well as the proposed training and accommodation facilities. SAFF’s commitment to growing the game at every level in Saudi across men …

SAUDIA proudly launched its inaugural flight from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Gatwick International Airport in London. Gatwick Airport holds the second position among the United Kingdom’s airports. This launch is part of the implementation stages of the airline’s new strategy, aimed at expanding its reach to new international destinations, and connecting the world to the Kingdom, based on marketing and operational studies. It aligns with the vision of SAUDIA Group to operate flights to 25 destinations across 3 continents. The inaugural flight of SAUDIA, SV119, departed from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to the city of London. The event was attended by Mrs. Cecille El Beleidi, the British Consul General in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Mohammed Baakdhah, Vice President of Ground Operations at SAUDIA. The inauguration ceremony was held at the AlFursan Lounge, signaling the departure of the first flight at the airport. Mohammad Baakdhah highlighted the importance of strengthening relations between the two countries through the launch of new destinations by SAUDIA to Gatwick Airport, and soon to Birmingham. These additions will join the existing flights to London Heathrow Airport and Manchester International Airport. He further explained that the increase in destinations is accompanied by an unprecedented development of the SAUDIA fleet, ensuring the achievement of operational targets, in addition to continuous improvement in the digital service system.

flynas has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP) to launch five new international destinations. The destinations include the capitals of Iraq, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. This collaboration aims to facilitate the arrival of visitors to the Kingdom. Under the agreement, flynas will operate direct flights to Abuja, the Nigerian capital, from Jeddah, and direct flights between Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, and King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, as well as Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah. Three other destinations in Central Asia will be launched, including direct flights from Jeddah to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and Osh, the second largest city in the country. The fifth new direct flight will operate between Jeddah and Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. During the signing ceremony, Bander Almohanna, flynas CEO and Managing Director, stated: “The new agreement strengthens the partnership between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program, and supports the company’s growth and expansion strategy launched under the slogan ‘Connecting the World to the Kingdom’, which aims to reach 165 destinations.” Almohanna emphasized that connecting direct flights with these five new cities distributed between Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, will enhance flynas’ ability to serve pilgrims and Umrah performers, and will open new horizons for tourism, trade exchange, and economic opportunities. It will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the Air Connectivity Program by establishing new routes. “The partnership between flynas and the Air Connectivity Program marks a significant milestone in the ecosystem’s efforts to facilitate travel to the Kingdom,” said Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP. ‘’By enabling direct air connectivity to these five new …

Sabre Corporation  celebrated the opening of a new office in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last week in the presence of representatives from travel companies and partners.  “We are excited to continue delivering our investment plan in Saudi Arabia and celebrate the opening of the second new office in the Kingdom this year,” said Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, vice president, Sabre Travel Network Middle East. “This reflects our commitment and continuous efforts to expand our operations and team to support the increasing needs of our customers in the Kingdom. We have invested in building a knowledgeable and diverse team to give our customers the support they require.” “We believe our efforts in the Kingdom are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy. We provide the technology and infrastructure to equip travel companies with the tools and solutions they need to help maximise their potential, provide exceptional customer experience and attract travellers from all around the world,” added Iyer.