Tag Archives: Saudi

Rotana announced the opening of Nova M Hotel Olaya Riyadh, an Edge by Rotana hotel, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The hotel features 104 meticulously designed rooms and suites that blend contemporary aesthetics with modern amenities, providing a comfortable stay for both business and leisure travellers. Launched in May 2022, Edge by Rotana is a collection of independent properties that maintain their individuality while benefiting from Rotana’s extensive network and systems. Located on Riyadh’s renowned Al Olaya Street, Nova M Hotel Olaya Riyadh is the first Edge by Rotana property to open its doors in the Kingdom, with another four Edge by Rotana properties in the pipeline – three in Riyadh and one in Al Baha. This forms part of Rotana’s larger expansion plan, which will see nine new properties launched in the Kingdom by 2028, doubling Rotana’s key count in the country to over 4,236. Commenting on the announcement, Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana, said: “Opening our first Edge by Rotana branded property in Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone for Rotana as we continue to expand our footprint in the region. Saudi Arabia is one of the region’s fastest-growing markets, and we are on track to meet our goal of doubling the number of rooms we currently manage in the Kingdom in the next few years. With each new property, we remain committed to fulfilling our brand promise of ‘Treasured Time’ by providing guests with convenience, modern amenities, and exceptional hospitality.” Guests will also delight in the hotel’s leisure facilities, which include a Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club, featuring a fully equipped gym, sauna, steam rooms, and massage room, as well as a refreshing rooftop pool. Nova …

The Saudi pavilion participating in Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan has announced an unprecedented cultural and artistic program encompassing more than 700 events to introduce visitors to Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, mega projects and various economic opportunities. According to SPA, the Saudi pavilion at the expo will present Saudi Arabia’s past, transformational journey and vision for a sustainable and prosperous future. It will include a wide range of performances, such as traditional arts, classical music and fashion shows. Saudi chefs will present a mix of flavours inspired by different regions of the Kingdom, and Saudi musicians and artists will perform daily to highlight the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage. A dedicated area for prominent figures will host various sessions and display a series of presentations to inform companies and investors of all the economic opportunities available in the Kingdom. More than 200 selections of souvenirs will be displayed in the gift shop, each a testament to authentic Saudi craftsmanship. Visitors from around the world will learn about AlUla City, located in north-west Saudi Arabia, which is home to dramatic desert landscapes, spectacular rock formations and some of the Middle East’s most significant ancient sites. Major Saudi projects will be highlighted, including NEOM, the land of the future; THE LINE, the 170-kilometre-long city that will be the future of urban living; Oxagon, which is redefining the traditional industrial model; and Trojena, the mountain resort of NEOM. The pavilion will also showcase aspects of ‘Green Riyadh,’ a revolutionary project that aims to transform Saudi Arabia’s capital into a green oasis by planting 7.5 million trees by 2030. This project aims to place Riyadh as one of the world’s top 100 most livable cities. …

The third Qemam International Festival for Mountain Performance Arts, held in Saudi Arabia’s Asir region, presented a stunning array of performances from both local and international troupes. Featuring participants from 45 local and international groups and showcasing 40 distinct types of Saudis, Arab, and international mountainous performance arts, the festival’s goal was to foster international cultural exchange and celebrate the rich legacy of mountain performing arts. The Chinese group left a lasting impression with their mesmerizing performances. The first, a traditional Yao dance called “Long Drum” from the Han dynasty, showcased the group’s artistic prowess. Their second performance, “Bronze Drum,” seamlessly combined traditional art, music, and skilled group performance, providing a unique and enchanting experience. Japan contributed to the cultural tapestry with a performance group presenting three distinct arts: Kokiriko Bushi, Hanagasa Ondo, and Genroku Hanami Odori. The Spanish group, on the other hand, enraptured the audience with three performances set to Spanish music tunes, showcasing the authenticity and heritage of these arts. Sudan brought forth the ancient art of Sudanese Ardah, while Jordan presented the vibrant ‘Dabkah’ with about twenty variations. Lebanon’s performance group displayed the art of Dabkah at eight heritage sites, emphasizing its significance in the Levant. The Moroccan group exhibited the famous Ahidouss, Obidat Al-Rama, and captivating solo and group performances of Amazigh Mountains. An Iraqi group presented the art of ‘Gobi’ at eight heritage sites, and the Yemeni performances depicted the rich legacy and heritage through ‘Al-Samrah’ from Yafi and Al-Awd Mountain performance arts. Italy showcased three mountain arts – Mediterraneo Performance Arts, Old Ttarantella, and Ballad of SanCalogero. The Uzbekistani group delighted the audience with ‘Lyasgi,’ a performance that highlighted individual and group skills, …

Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, successfully concluded its participation in the Wings India 2024 exhibition conference. This event was organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Republic of India in cooperation with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The conference also witnessed the presence of leaders and heads of civil aviation organizations and bodies worldwide and took place from January 18 to 21, 2024, at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. During Saudi Arabia’s participation, a delegation led by the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, highlighted the vital role of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom’s national economy. He also emphasized the promising investment opportunities offered by this sector, aligning with the Saudi Aviation Strategy’s objectives. Under this strategy, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) aims to position Saudi Arabia as a leading player in civil aviation in the Middle East. Their goals include doubling passenger capacity to 330 million annually, serving more than 250 destinations worldwide, and increasing cargo capacity to 5.4 million tons. On the sidelines of the conference, the President of GACA participated in a ministerial session with leaders of civil aviation from around the world. This session focused on reviewing the national aviation strategy’s role in supporting economic development in Saudi Arabia. It also discussed the various opportunities for global investors based on the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The aim is for Saudi Arabia to become a regional aviation hub and a global logistics platform connecting three continents. The Saudi Aviation Strategy aims to emphasize the Kingdom’s pioneering role in the in the field of civil aviation in the …

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued an index to classify air transport service providers and airports based on the number of complaints filed by travelers to the authority during December 2023. The total complaints lodged by passengers to GACA during December amounted to 1,308. Flynas recorded the least complaints at 42 per 100,000 passengers, with a closure rate of 100%. Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) ranked second, with 61 complaints and a closure rate of 99%. Meanwhile, Flyadeal came third with 65 complaints per 100,000 passengers, recording a closure rate of 96%. The most frequent complaints for December were about luggage, flight delays, and tickets, respectively. In December 2023, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport recorded the lowest complaints, with five complaints for every 100,000 passengers, or 1%, among international airports that receive more than six million passengers annually. The airport had a closure rate of 100%. Abha International Airport came with the lowest complaints for every 100,000 passengers with six complaints, or 2%, among international airports that receive less than six million passengers annually, with a closure rate of 100%. Locally, Najran Domestic Airport recorded the lowest complaints for every 100,000 passengers with two complaints, at a closure rate of 100%.

Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), announced that under the Saudi Aviation Strategy, the Kingdom expects 330 million passengers annually by 2030 and it aims only 10 percent of them to be transit passengers. This strategy is a part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leading regional hub and a global logistics platform connecting three continents. Al-Duailej shared these insights at a ministerial session on the sidelines of Wings India 2024, an exhibition and conference organized by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), from January 18 to 21, 2024, at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad. (Saudi Gazette report) Al-Duailej emphasized the critical role of civil aviation in supporting Saudi Arabia’s economic growth and sustainable development. The Kingdom is redefining the future of its aviation sector, aiming to attract $100 billion in investments and create an unparalleled travel experience. The focus on sustainable and integrated growth is evident in the aim to have only a fraction of passengers as transit passengers. The Saudi Aviation Strategy includes a comprehensive plan to upgrade and develop airports, airlines, aircraft, and facilities, including shipping and logistics services. It aims to expand the Kingdom’s air connectivity to over 250 destinations worldwide through 29 airports. Additionally, the strategy plans to establish a network of airports with unique capabilities, led by two global connectivity centers in Riyadh and Jeddah. Al-Duailej also highlighted the strategy’s ambition to transform air freight and logistics services, increasing air freight capacity from 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons by 2030. This initiative is expected to attract global air carriers, logistics service providers, …

Saudi tourism statistics achieved positive results during this year, with total number of tourists (overnight visitors for all purposes) reaching (53.6 million), including (39.0 million) domestic tourists and (14.6 million) inbound tourists. The Ministry of Tourism is delighted to announce the preliminary data for the first half of 2023 tourism statistics, which demonstrates the continuous achievements following 2022’s remarkable growth within the tourism sector, in addition to informing local and international investors on the sector’s latest updates, this confirms the effectiveness of the Ministry of Tourism and its partners efforts in attracting visitors by enhancing the tourism products and quality of services, in addition to improving visa structures. Saudi tourism statistics achieved positive results during this year, with total number of tourists (overnight visitors for all purposes) reaching (53.6 million), including (39.0 million) domestic tourists and (14.6 million) inbound tourists. The total tourism spending reached (SAR150 billion), of which (SAR 63.1 billion) came from domestic tourism and (SAR 86.9 billion) from Inbound tourism, that indicates a new historical record for Saudi tourism. Inbound tourism achieved historical record numbers in the first half of 2023, recording an increase of (142%) in number of tourists and (132%) in total tourism spending vs. the first half of 2022. With the continuous development of the tourism sector, there has been an increase in the number of tourists for all purposes with leisure tourists showing the highest growth (347%) vs. the first half of 2022. Domestic tourism in the first half of 2023 recorded a growth of (16%) in tourism spending, due to the average length of stay increasing from (4.6) nights in the first half of 2022 to (6.3) nights in the first half of …

In their latest research report Skyscanner reveals some of the trends which are to be expected in 2024 and one which stands out more than others is that travellers are looking at cultural exploration. Hugh Aikens – VP Strategic Relations and Development at Skyscanner in an interview shared more details with TTME. Hugh Aikens – VP Strategic Relations and Development at Skyscanner reiterates, “We’re seeing a broad spectrum of cultural curiosity in travel, from jetting off to see their favourite artists, to travellers seeking the very best food experience (at the very best price!), Gig Trippers and more.” o             42% of UAE travellers rate the overall ‘vibe’ of a destination as important when choosing where to go in 2024* o             90% of UAE travellers plan to take the same number, if not more, trips abroad in 2024 compared to 2023 o             32% of UAE travellers say the cost of flights mostly determines their choice of destination 7/10 trending destinations for UAE travellers in 2024 are for European hotspots When it comes to most popular activities to do on holiday, culture is high on the agenda for UAE travellers, with historical tours (44%), hitting the beach (40%) and sampling local food (36%) coming out on top. Value for money remains a key factor for UAE travellers, with the cost of the flight (32%) and hotel (16%) being the biggest factors determining the destination. However, over half (56%) of UAE travellers have budgeted to spend more on travel in 2024 compared to 2023, while 31% will spend the same. Only 10% have said they’ll spend less. 56% of UAE travellers have budgeted to spend more on travel in 2024 compared to 2023 …

Cruise Saudi welcomed SH Diana to Saudi Arabia as part of her Maiden Voyage with inaugural calls to Yanbu, Baridi Island and Jeddah. SH Diana anchored at sea, just off Baridi Island, offering a new expedition experience with pristine beaches and coral reefs. Continuing her journey along the Red Sea coast, the ship made a second maiden call in Saudi to Jeddah, where passengers explored the streets of Al Balad – a UNESCO World Heritage recognized Hijazi style historic district, with its traditional buildings and authentic shops and cafes. Lars Clasen, CEO at Cruise Saudi said, “We were honoured to welcome Swan Hellenic’s cruise ship, SH Diana to Saudi for the first time, in what was a milestone visit for Cruise Saudi. We are proud to be constantly expanding our programme of onshore experiences to provide such an authentic insight into Saudi culture for our guests.” Kai Ukkonen, Captain of SH Diana said, “It’s incredibly exciting to have incorporated this Maiden Voyage to Saudi and to offer this new destination to our passengers. Our goal is to always create unforgettable moments for our guests, so it was a top priority to work with Cruise Saudi on creating a collection of unique and curated adventures for a truly immersive experience.”

At the recently concluded TravelTech ME with TravTalkME as media partner the travel experts from various travel agencies, tourism boards, travel technology and metasearch companies etc shared some very important aspects in terms of the future of the travel and tourism sectors. Daniel Rosado, Director Spain Tourism GCC shared, “during travel tech we had the chance to discuss and learn about the new trends, challenges and solutions on the travel sector related to technology, where experts from different companies enlighten the attendees. But also, amongst the topics we discussed some other issues on a more general approach in order to give the frame and set the tone of the current situation of the region where these technologies are applied. We highlighted the importance of tourism in the region, with UAE and Saudi leading the way. We analysed the latest data and figures trying to understand where the near future will take us. Regarding the outbound market we also saw that its growing at a steady pace and travel to countries such as Spain has experienced an impressive growth.”