Tag Archives: Saudi

Expanding its roster of collaborators, the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation to establish luxury hotels across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The collaboration aims to develop several hospitality-led destinations which will enhance the tourism offering in Saudi Arabia. These destinations may include beach and urban hotels, as well as mountain, desert and farm retreats. They will be developed under Hyatt’s existing trademarks, such as Alila Resorts, which offer an authentic wellness destination experience, or other trademarks such as Park Hyatt, Hyatt Centric, Grand Hyatt and any other Hyatt brands mutually agreed upon by the entities. The development of these hotels would be part of the Kingdom’s National Tourism Strategy and in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Commenting on the agreement, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund Qusai Al-Fakhri, said, “We are joining forces with many legacy brands in the tourism, hospitality, and business travel segments as we continue to thoughtfully expand our roster of collaborators. This collaboration with Hyatt will help us to attract tourists and ensure that they receive a comfortable, high-quality experience in the Kingdom’s top tourism destinations.” Hyatt has one of the world’s largest portfolios of hotels and resorts, focused on the high-end travellers in each segment that it serves, and is continually growing its brand footprint. It has established an industry-leading luxury, lifestyle, and leisure portfolio across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which is significantly contributing to its global expansion. Regional Vice President, Development – Middle East and Africa at Hyatt Ludwig Bouldoukian, said, “Saudi Arabia is the largest emerging market in the Middle East and has made significant advances …

Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays and the Saudi Tourism Authority are excited to announce a new strategic partnership. This cooperative endeavour focuses on promoting tourism in Saudi Arabia to UAE residents. Under this agreement, Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority will work together to showcase the natural wonders, cultural heritage, and unmatched hospitality of Saudi Arabia to travelers from the UAE. The goal is to create unparalleled travel experiences, fostering deeper connections and understanding between the two nations. The partnership aims to offer UAE travelers the chance to immerse themselves in Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes, including the awe-inspiring rock formations of Al Ula, the bustling streets of Riyadh, the tranquil Red Sea coast, and the breathtaking archaeological marvels of Madain Saleh. Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority are committed to providing seamless travel experiences that exceed expectations with tailor-made itineraries, curated tours, and exceptional customer service. Bimal Jain, General Manager of Al Rostamani Travel and Holidays, and Khalid Khan, GCC Trade Director for the Saudi Tourism Authority, officially signed the agreement at the Arabian Travel Market event. Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in Al Rostamani Travel, the organization acknowledges the significance of this partnership in supporting Saudi Arabia’s vision to establish itself as a leading global tourism destination. By leveraging their expertise and resources, both entities will work towards raising awareness about the incredible tourism offerings of Saudi Arabia and inviting UAE travelers to embark on unforgettable journeys. As this collaboration unfolds, the public can look forward to more exciting updates and initiatives to showcase the wonders of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry. Al Rostamani Travel and the Saudi Tourism Authority are determined to create memorable …

Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce the opening of its eighth hotel in Riyadh, Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Convention & Exhibition Center. This new addition forms an integral part of the Riyadh International Conference and Exhibition Center. Situated in the capital city of Saudi Arabia and within walking distance of the city center and its state-of the art Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Convention & Exhibition Center  is ideal for business and leisure travelers looking for a sophisticated atmosphere and a base from which to conduct their business and enjoying luxurious relaxation. Additional destination highlights include vast shopping malls, impressive skyscrapers, and cultural offerings, including the King ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Historical Centre, the National Museum, and the National Library. Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Convention & Exhibition Center features 223 rooms, all of which have been stylishly designed with spectacular views of Riyadh. The heart of the hotel is the double-volume lobby that welcomes guests as a tranquil oasis from the city’s fast-paced life. The design elements of the hotel, from the breathtaking entrance to the tasteful decor in the guest rooms, deliver a feeling of modern luxury. Guests staying in the Executive Rooms and Suites have complimentary access to the Business Lounge, which offers Tea, Coffee and snacks throughout the day. Radisson Blu Hotel, Riyadh Convention & Exhibition Center offers two food and beverage venues. The Al Diriyah Restaurant and Lounge serves an international menu with some local touches and serves a variety of coffees from Camel Step, a local roastery. The Terrace restaurant is located on the second floor and is the perfect spot for those looking to enjoy a night out with gourmet …

The Saudi Tourism Authority welcomes the expansion of the GCC residents visa which now is open to all professions for those wanting to apply for a tourist visa. Announced by the Ministry of Tourism the visa allows visitors to enjoy Saudi’s diverse tourist destinations and perform Umrah throughout the year. This is the latest in a series of announcements across the Saudi tourism eco-system that aim to attract regional tourists and provide more activities for visitors coming from GCC countries. People wishing to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can view more information and apply for a visa on www.visa.visitsaudi.com. The Visit Saudi app also provides a gateway for travelers to discover all the events, international festivals, inspiring tourism experiences, and enjoy the country’s climate, natural and cultural diversity, and the authentic generosity and hospitality of  the Saudi people. The tourist visa was launched in 2019, to keep up with the development and growth of the tourism sector. In 2022, the Saudi Tourism Authority launched the Nusuk platform in collaboration with the Pilgrim Experience Program. Nusuk, Saudi’s first-ever official integrated digital platform, offers all pilgrims and visitors an easy-to-use planning gateway for their journeys to Makkah and Madinah, and beyond. With Nusuk, travelers from all over the world can easily organize their entire visit, from applying for an eVisa to booking hotels and flights. To book Umrah travel, visit www.Nusuk.sa. Saudi has seen a remarkable increase in the number of visitors every year, reaching more than 93 million visits in 2022. The tourism sector aims to reach 100 million visits annually by 2030.

Global travel marketplace Skyscanner highlighted key travel trends to Saudi Arabia for the month coinciding with Ramadan. Accordingly, Saturday 18 March 2023 is the most popular departure date, with 38% of travellers aiming to travel to Saudi; whilst over 92% travellers are aiming to travel to Saudi during the week of 20 March, making the start of Ramadan the most popular travel time. Travellers from across the GCC, the United Kingdom, Egypt and Germany are amongst the most popular making their way to the Kingdom during this time where Jeddah is the airport of choice, accounting for 75% of bookings. Over 70% of travellers are looking for trips between 1-2 weeks long. “As restrictions ease and capacity increases, we are seeing travel demand return to pre-pandemic levels, if not higher,” said Ayoub El Mamoun, Skyscanner Travel Expert. “Travel remains a key priority, with many travellers across the GCC, such as the UAE and Saudi, planning the same or more trips in 2023 than they did the year previously.” Top GCC destinations booking Saudi Arabia during Ramadan UAE Saudi Arabia Kuwait Qatar Oman   Top international destinations booking Saudi Arabia during Ramadan UK Egypt Germany Netherlands Pakistan Italy France USA Indonesia Morocco

It was revealed by Skyscanner that travel searches for the week of Saudi’s Foundation Day 2023 increased up by 83% compared to 2022. In terms of booking windows for flights in February also see increase compared to 2022, suggesting a return to pre-pandemic booking windows as consumer confidence continues to grow and travellers book flights earlier. Travel searches within the GCC – top 3: Saudi Arabia (+98% compared to previous year) UAE (+99 compared to previous year) Qatar (+2094% increase compared to previous year)   International travel searches – top 5 Egypt (+19% increase compared to previous year) Morocco (+41% increase compared to previous year) India (+83% increase compared to previous year) “Everywhere” Search (+497% increase compared to previous year) – this indicates KSA travellers are considering prices and being flexible about their destinations to visit. Pakistan (+57% increase compared to previous year)   Flight bookings made more than 30 days before departure in February 2023 are up 7% compared to 2022, whilst flight bookings made less than 30 days before departure are down 6% from the previous year. Discover the best time to book using Skyscanner’s new Savings Generator Travellers looking for guidance on how to make their money go further can visit Skyscanner’s 2023 Savings Generator, which shows the best time to book for the top 15 most popular departure airports and destinations pairings.   Currently, the overall best time to book flights from Saudi Arabia is on average 21 weeks before departure and the cheapest day of the week to travel from Saudi Arabia is a Sunday. However, the global travel site has data crunched millions of flight bookings over the last year across its most popular …

Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has commenced an official partnership with the world’s preeminent Twenty 20 cricket league, the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL). Cricket is one of the most popular sports around the world. Through this partnership, STA aims to tap into a strong fanbase between the two countries, encourage affinity and increase awareness of Saudi as a leading destination for Indian travelers, especially among young people. With more than half of its population below the age of 30, India shares a similar demographic profile with Saudi Arabia, where 58 percent of the local population is in the same age group. As part of Saudi’s tourism strategy, India represents immense potential as it is expected to be Saudi’s largest tourism source market by 2030. The partnership is a strong example of Saudi supporting the country’s Sports sector. Saudi continues to strengthen its competitive advantage in the market, and it will look to welcome more than two million visitors from India this year. IPL is one of the biggest events on the international sporting calendar and the partnership adds to a growing portfolio of STA’s global strategic relationships. Partnerships like IPL are a key pillar of Saudi’s tourism strategy as they bring fans, athletes and nations together, while sparking curiosity from those that may want to be among the first to visit Saudi as a destination. The dynamic partnership builds on Saudi’s history and love for cricket, with the first governing cricket body established in 2003. In 2020, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) was established and it currently looks after 16 regional associations in 11 cities, and counts 8,000+ registered players and 400+ registered clubs, with a total participation of 35,000 …

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), announced the launch of the New Murabba Development Company which aims to develop the world’s largest modern downtown in Riyadh, contributing to the city’s future development in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The New Murabba project will be built around the concept of sustainability, featuring green areas and walking and cycling paths that will enhance the quality of life by promoting healthy, active lifestyles and community activities. It will also feature an iconic museum, a technology and design university, a multipurpose immersive theater, and more than 80 entertainment and culture venues. The project will be situated at the intersection of King Salman and King Khalid roads to the North West of Riyadh, over an area of 19 square kilometers, to accommodate hundreds of thousands of residents. The project will offer more than 25 million sqm of floor area, featuring more than 104,000 residential units, 9,000 hotel rooms, and more than 980,000 sqm of retail space, as well as 1.4 million sqm of office space, 620,000 sqm of leisure assets, and 1.8 million sqm of space dedicated to community facilities. Inspired by the modern Najdi architectural style, the “Mukaab” will be the world’s first immersive destination offering an experience created by digital and virtual technology with the latest holographics. The “Mukaab” will encompass a tower atop a spiral base, and a structure featuring 2 million sqm of floor space that will be a premium hospitality destination with a multitude of retail, cultural and tourist attractions, along with residential and hotel units, commercial spaces, and recreational facilities. The New Murabba project …

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism (MT), Ministry of Interior (MOI), the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MOHU), Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), SAUDIA and flynas, has announced the launch of a new Stopover Visa.  The free-of-charge Stopover Visa is open to a wider number of countries than the historic tourism eVisa and is Saudi’s latest move to make the destination more accessible. In Q1 this year airline capacity into Saudi Arabia is expected to grow by over 65% compared to the same period in 2022 when four of the Top Ten busiest international routes were to or from Saudi. The Stopover Visa will allow passengers to stay in the country for up to 96 hours, enabling more visitors than ever to explore Saudi’s incomparable historical, cultural, and spiritual sites. Travelers will also be able to use the Stopover Visa to perform the spiritual Umrah ritual. Spiritual travelers can book flights through SAUDIA and flynas, but must also register for Umrah through the Nusuk platform. Even more exciting for visitors, Stopover Visa holders will be eligible for a complimentary one-night hotel stay during the stopover when booking through SAUDIA. To help visitors make the most of their stopover, custom 24, 48, 72 and 96-hour itineraries have been developed to inspire visitors to stroll through Jeddah’s Al-Balad, or visit the Al-Turaif district in Diriyah, one of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visitors can also use the Stopover Visa to break up long-haul flights or book a bonus trip to experience Saudi’s burgeoning entertainment and seasonal events calendar or even extend a business trip on the way to their final destination. The Stopover Visa application will …

The Saudi Red Sea Authority, The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani), and Cruise Saudi welcomed the inaugural visit of the first cruise ship to enter Dammam’s King Abdulaziz Port, with the arrival of MSC World Europa yesterday. Carrying around 5,000 passengers, the ship’s arrival marks a historic moment for Cruise Saudi, Mawani, the Eastern Province and the country; as it opens Saudi Arabia’s coastline on the Arabian Gulf to cruising for the first time. Saudi Red Sea Authority facilitated regulatory arrangements’ efforts to ensure the arrival of MSC World Europa, as the regulator that enables the private sector to practice marine and maritime activities in collaboration with Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mawani, Saudi Tourism Authority and Saudi Cruise to resolve all challenges to attract investment and highlight the rich coastal tourism in Saudi Arabia. Throughout Cruise Saudi’s current cruising season, the ship will make weekly calls at King Abdulaziz Port on its seven-day cruise round trip, which itineraries also include the ports of Doha – where it homeported during November and December last year hosting football fans – Dubai and Abu Dhabi. These visits are in line with Cruise Saudi’s efforts of developing world-class port’s infrastructure to welcome global cruise ships and passengers to explore the country’s diverse offering – by working in conjunction with Saudi Arabia’s Port Authority, Mawani. The occasion was celebrated with the traditional Plaque & Key Exchange Ceremony on board MSC World Europa, attended by representatives of Cruise Saudi, Mawani, and the key Authorities whose efforts and cooperation drove this milestone, including, Saudi Red Sea Authority, and Zakat, Tax & Customs Authority, as well as the ship officials, including Captain of the vessel Marco …