Tag Archives: Riyadh

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.

SAUDIA and Virgin Atlantic have signed a codeshare agreement effective June 2024 to provide a range of benefits to SAUDIA’s guests and Virgin Atlantic’s passengers, enriching their travel experience and expanding route networks for both airlines to serve the tourism and business sectors. The codeshare agreement offers a range of benefits for travelers on both airlines. Guests will enjoy a smooth and hassle-free travel experience with the ability to book connecting flights on both SAUDIA and Virgin Atlantic under a single ticket. This simplifies the booking process and ensures seamless baggage handling to their destination. Additionally, frequent flyers can leverage their existing membership benefits and accrue mileage towards status upgrades on both airlines. Notably, SAUDIA’s AlFursan members can specifically earn and redeem miles on Virgin Atlantic flights. Under this new codeshare agreement, SAUDIA guests will be able to seamlessly travel from Jeddah and Riyadh to ten destinations across the United States and the Caribbean Islands via Heathrow and Manchester airports in the United Kingdom utilizing Virgin Atlantic’s extensive flight network. Furthermore, the Virgin Atlantic passengers traveling from the United States will be able to conveniently book flights via London Heathrow and Manchester airports, connecting them to SAUDIA’s services in Jeddah and Riyadh.

The China i2i Group announced the launch of  CVS Saudi Arabia, to be hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with The Saudi Tourism Authority and Taiba Investments Company. The CVS Saudi Arabia will attract 120+ Chinese travel buyers, including travel agencies, tour operators, wholesalers, luxury travel agents, corporate travel planners, business travel agencies, MICE agents, online travel agencies, as well as specialty firms for adventure, culinary, historical tours, and more. Additionally, a contingent of Chinese media representatives will be in attendance. The CVS Saudi Arabia will span two days, offering travel suppliers from across Saudi Arabia the opportunity for face-to-face meetings with these Chinese buyers and media. Saudi Arabian travel suppliers will have the flexibility to select the buyers they wish to meet with, customizing their meeting experience to align with their product and profit goals. In addition to the one-on-one meetings, the CVS Saudi Arabia will provide ample networking opportunities during group breakfasts, refreshment breaks, lunches, afternoon teas, and dinner receptions. During the event, Chinese buyers will be invited to participate in various city and regional tours, hotel and attraction site inspections, meetings with MICE venues and partnerships, as well as engagements with local Saudi Arabian government and tourism dignitaries and officials. Alexander Glos, CEO of China i2i and producer of the CVS, commented, “The extension and expansion of the CVS to Saudi Arabia present an exciting opportunity for everyone. As Saudi Arabia emerges as one of the most intriguing and dynamic travel destinations globally, Chinese travelers will be eager to explore, learn, and embark on great adventures throughout the country.” Underlining the significance of the Chinese market, Alhasan Aldabbagh, President of APAC Markets, Saudi Tourism Authority, emphasized, “China, …