Tag Archives: Saudi Arabia

flyadeal is expanding its regional network this summer to cover Istanbul’s secondary airport Sabiha Gökçen and Alexandria, the airline’s fourth destination in Egypt. Saudi Arabia’s fast growing low-cost airline will launch daily scheduled flights between Riyadh and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport located on the Asian side of Istanbul on 29 May. These will complement flyadeal’s popular services from both the Saudi capital and Jeddah to the primary Istanbul Airport on the city’s European side. Beginning  2 June the historical port city of Alexandria will be served four-times-a-week from Jeddah. With the addition of Alexandria, flyadeal strengthens operations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt – its largest international market – to 69 weekly frequencies covering Cairo, Sohag and seasonal flights to Sharm El Sheikh from Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam.

Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) announced a major expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with the addition of new properties and ambitious development plans aimed at supporting the country’s growing tourism sector. As part of its strategic growth initiative, HMH has signed an agreement to operate the Corp Al Khobar Corniche Hotel, a 157-room property overlooking the Khobar waterfront in the Eastern Province and a memorandum of understanding for a new Dammam hotel development. The hotel, previously under Accor’s Mercure brand, will now join HMH’s expanding portfolio, further strengthening the company’s footprint in Saudi Arabia. This milestone comes as HMH prepares to open its flagship 460-room hotel in Makkah by mid-2025. Set to begin operations after the Hajj season, the Makkah property is expected to serve as a cornerstone in HMH’s faith-based tourism offerings, catering to the millions of pilgrims who travel to the holy city annually. Additional developments are also underway across the Kingdom, reinforcing HMH’s commitment to meeting the surging demand for quality hospitality solutions. Mr. Haytham Abdelaziz, Chief Operating Officer of HMH, emphasized the strategic significance of Saudi Arabia in the group’s expansion roadmap: “Saudi Arabia is a strategic priority for HMH, fully aligned with Vision 2030’s transformative tourism goals and the rising demand for premium accommodation. The Al Khobar property strengthens our presence in the Eastern Province, while our forthcoming Makkah hotel will place us at the heart of religious tourism. With over 6,000 rooms currently operational or in development across the region, we remain deeply committed to supporting the Kingdom’s target of attracting 150 million annual visitors by 2030.” The Corp Al Khobar Corniche Hotel will cater to a diverse clientele, including corporate travelers and …

With Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific market, PATA signaled readiness to support the Kingdom with market intelligence and regional insights. While acknowledging Saudi’s robust in-house expertise, PATA highlighted its value as a connector offering knowledge from decades of Asia-focused tourism development. The collaboration could involve joint projects, knowledge sharing, and practical guidance to help Saudi adapt its tourism products for Asian travelers.

With just under a month to go before the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia gets under way, investors, developers, government decision makers and regional hospitality leaders are gearing up for three days of networking, learning, debate and deal making in Riyadh with TravTalkME as media partner. Nearly 300 investors – almost one in four of all delegates – attended last year’s event, which created more than US$1.1 billion worth of business opportunities and saw 17 deals signed. With KSA’s hospitality and tourism transformation in full swing in line with Vision 2030, the stage is set for a wealth of new partnerships, signings and collaborations at FHS Saudi Arabia 2025. In the run up to FHS Saudi Arabia, I spoke to leaders from Taiba Investments, Al Khozama Investment Company, Baraka and AlNahla Group for their take on investing in KSA. Read on for insight on where these investors are heading, the importance of hospitality projects to Saudi’s overall real estate offering, how tourism targets can be met and what excites them most about KSA’s future tourism offering. With unprecedented expansion in real estate, tourism and hospitality in KSA, the opportunities for investment are seemingly endless. What are investors focusing on in terms of location and asset class? Taiba Investments is looking to solidify its position in the hospitality and real state sectors and aiming for sustainable growth by expanding in key hubs like Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to elevate KSA’s status as a premier global destination. The company is looking to strategically expand its portfolio with several hotel openings, such as Rixos Obhur Jeddah, Makarem Burj Al Madinah, Crowne Plaza Takhassusi, Sheraton Madinah, Novotel Madinah and Riyadh Marriott Hotel Mursalat. …

Saudi Arabia has set new records in tourism recording its highest surplus in the travel account of the balance of payments in 2024 estimated at SAR 49.8 billion—a growth of approximately 7.8% compared to 2023. This impressive performance was driven by a 13.8% increase in inbound visitor spending compared to 2023, with total inbound visitor spending reaching an estimated SAR 153.6 billion in 2024, according to balance of payments preliminary data issued by the Saudi Central Bank. The Ministry of Tourism explained that the significant growth in the travel account surplus in 2024 reflects the efforts of the Ministry and other entities of the Saudi Tourism Ecosystem to strengthen the tourism industry and its contribution to national economic growth. It also underlines the successful measures taken to elevate the sector to global leadership by implementing best practices in tourism development, enhancing tourism services and products, and promoting strong collaboration with all government entities to support the development of the tourism sector—while advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

At a recent press briefing on the latest report to be published by WTTC, Julia Simpson – President WTTC shared that the Middle East will be a central focus in this upcoming analyses, with rapid advancements observed throughout the region. She shared, “Dubai, in particular, continues to outperform expectations. Saudi Arabia is a nation to watch, and I look forward to further engagements as we continue our global exploration. Given our recent collaborations there, and considering significant progress in employment, tourism, and infrastructure, the country’s future looks exceptionally promising. Saudi Arabia has launched an ambitious vision, with investments reportedly exceeding $100 billion and a number of pioneering initiatives underway. The country’s young, well-educated population is a driving force behind these transformative changes. I congratulate His Royal Highness the Prince and Minister of Tourism for their outstanding efforts, and commend Saudi Arabia for its strong support of the World Travel and Tourism Council. For instance, when comprehensive sustainability data was needed, the kingdom provided critical funding and expertise.”

Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector continues on an upward trajectory, with the Kingdom welcoming 30 million international visitors in 2024, representing a 9.5 percent increase from the previous year. This impressive growth will be under the spotlight at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM), where Saudi Arabia will present its latest tourism milestones, showcase new projects and highlight its vision to become a premier destination. ATM 2025 will feature several prominent exhibitors from the Kingdom. In addition to the Saudi Tourism Authority, returning exhibitors include SAUDIA, flynas, Qiddiya Investment Company, Sixth Gulf Travel Company, Taiba Investment, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Fairmont Hotel, Cruise Saudi, and L’azure Hospitality. First-time exhibitors this year include flyadeal, Riyadh Air, Diriyah Company, Aseer, BAAN Holding Group, Makkah Hotel & Towers, Alhussam Tourism, and StayKSA. These exhibitors, along with many others, will be highlighted in a dedicated Saudi Land hall, an expanded version of last year’s ATM Saudi Village, which will be representative of the Saudi Arabian culture, heritage and tourism, while reflecting the upward trajectory of the Kingdom’s travel industry, which has seen Saudi Arabian exhibitor presence increase by 16% this year. Recent research conducted by VIDEC, on behalf of ATM, has highlighted Saudi Arabia’s remarkable status as the largest and fastest-growing economy within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached an impressive USD 1.1 trillion, translating to a per capita GDP of USD 32,500. This positions the nation as one of the most significant and influential markets in the region.

EaseMyTrip.ae has announced significant expansions that further solidify its presence in the Middle East. The company has launched Easy Trip Planners Limited in Saudi Arabia, establishing it as a fully owned subsidiary and marking its official entry into this pivotal market. This new venture enhances EaseMyTrip’s global footprint, underscoring its strategic commitment to growth in key international regions. As part of its expansion, EaseMyTrip’s UAE subsidiary is also poised to strengthen its Middle East presence through a strategic investment in two new Dubai-based entities: Ease My Trip Tours L.L.C. (EMT Tours) and Ease My Trip Holiday Homes L.L.C. (EMT Holiday). EMT Tours will focus on both inbound and outbound tour operations, while EMT Holiday will cater to the growing vacation home rental market. These new initiatives not only broaden EaseMyTrip’s service offerings but also enhance its regional diversification, positioning the company for continued success and growth in the Middle East. Mr. Nishant Pitti, Chairman and Founder of EaseMyTrip, said, “This is a significant milestone in our growth story as we expand our global presence and diversify our services. Our entry into Saudi Arabia and expansion in the Middle East, reflects our commitment to offering seamless travel experiences across the globe. We are confident that our technological expertise and customer-centric approach will help us grow rapidly in these regions and contribute to the growth of the global travel and aviation sectors.” He further added, “As we continue to scale, our focus remains on leveraging innovation to create unmatched value for our customers and stakeholders. We are determined to strengthen our position in the global travel ecosystem, foster economic growth, and enhance connectivity in both emerging and developed markets.” EaseMyTrip is set …

Emirates revealed the next seven cities to be served by its A350. The airline’s summer schedule will include A350 services to Tunis, Amman, Istanbul, Dammam, Ho Chi Minh City, Baghdad and Oslo as the new seven cities. With the latest tranche of planned Emirates A350 deployments, the airline is expanding the list of its short to medium haul destinations served in the Middle East/GCC and Europe. For the first time, the Emirates A350 will make its debut in Africa and Southeast Asia. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “Our strategic A350 expansion across diverse geographies in the Middle East/GCC, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia leverages the aircraft’s operational flexibility and efficiency, while offering more customers expanded premium travel options and the opportunity to experience our latest generation interiors like Business Class and Premium Economy along with plenty of thoughtful touches throughout every cabin, now available in more cities than ever before.” He added: “The introduction of this aircraft and layering it on existing route schedules also enables Emirates to maintain a compelling competitive position as the airline of choice for discerning travellers looking for a unique slate of connectivity options and elevated onboard experiences they can’t have with any other carrier.” The airline’s latest A350 fleet additions will start scheduled operations to the following destinations: Emirates will operate the A350 six times weekly (all days except for Tuesday) to Tunis on EK 747/748 from 1 June.* Amman’s EK 905/906 will be served daily by the Emirates A350 from 1 June.* Emirates’ A350 featuring the latest cabins will land in Istanbul for the first time to commence daily operations on EK 117/118 from 1 July.* The …

The Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia, taking place in Riyadh, 11-13 May, will host the region’s first NextGen Investment Forum to address the challenges – and opportunities – surrounding education, training and talent retention in KSA’s growing hospitality sectors. Investing in the next generation of leaders in hospitality is fundamental to delivering KSA’s Vision 2030 goals, according to industry experts, who will come together at FHS to explore and discuss issues such as bridging skill gaps, creating new pathways to career growth, empowering Saudi nationals and encouraging more women to take up a career in hospitality. The event takes place on the first day of FHS Saudi Arabia, Sunday 11 May, from 3:00pm, with more than 30 speakers set to take part. Through a series of curated roundtable discussions, the forum will bring together key industry stakeholders to address the most pressing challenges in hospitality education and retention with a focus on solution-oriented conversations and actionable outcomes to help shape the future of hospitality education and workforce development. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of FHS organiser The Bench, said: “By 2030, KSA’s hospitality and tourism transformation will create more than a million new jobs, deliver 320,000 new hotel rooms, and inject around US$46 billion into the country’s economy. And with Saudi Arabia set to welcome 150 million annual tourists in the next five years, it goes without saying that the right investment today is key to creating the hospitality leaders of tomorrow. “We are proud to launch this first-of-its-kind initiative at FHS Saudi Arabia and look to drawing inspiration from highly respected industry experts during an afternoon of collaboration, insight and actionable solutions to shape the future of KSA’s hospitality industry.” The NextGen …