Tourism & Transport

Riyadh Air ready for take-off with first flight to London on Oct. 26

owen.bennett — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:36:36 +0000

article author:

Wed, 2025-10-08 14:30

RIYADH: Announced at its headquarters in the Kingdom’s capital, Riyadh Air is officially taking to the skies — and it’s earlier than you think.

The airline’s maiden flight will depart from Riyadh to London’s Heathrow on Oct. 26 with a Boeing 787-9 technical spare aircraft named “Jamila,” which means “beautiful” in Arabic.

Riyadh Air, the newest national airline for ��, was announced in 2023 and is owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.

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Ford Motors gearing up to launch EV in the Saudi market

owen.bennett — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 13:09:52 +0000

article author:

Lama Alhamawi

Author:

Tue, 2025-10-07 15:49

RIYADH: Ford Motors is set to join ��’s electric vehicle market, rolling out the Mustang Mach-E in the Kingdom this November.

The US motor vehicle brand is set to test the waters with its first EV by rolling out 500 to 1,000 units in the Saudi market. This launch comes as year-to-date sales in �� are up 16 percent compared to August 2024.

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JLL to manage leasing for 733 commercial units across Riyadh Metro

owen.bennett — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:41:03 +0000

article author:

Nirmal Narayanan

Author:

Mon, 2025-10-06 14:32

RIYADH: Commuters across Riyadh will soon see enhanced shopping and dining options as the city’s metro network undergoes a major commercial transformation.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has partnered with global real estate advisory firm JLL to develop a comprehensive retail strategy and manage leasing across the network, according to a press release.

Under the agreement, JLL will implement a retail plan for Riyadh Metro covering tenant mix, rental analysis, and leasing cycles for 733 commercial units across 85 metro stations and 2,900 bus stops.

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AlUla Development Co. reimagines resort’s cultural legacy

Sajjadkk — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 19:39:11 +0000

article author:

MOHAMMED AL-KINANI

Sat, 2025-10-04 22:29

JEDDAH: As �� accelerates efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil, AlUla Development Co. is emerging as a key force in shaping a new tourism model grounded in cultural preservation, sustainability, and community empowerment.

Launched in January 2023 as a wholly owned entity of the Public Investment Fund, UDC was established to lead the development and management of AlUla’s built environment in line with the Royal Commission for AlUla’s vision.

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Business & Economy

Tourism & Transport

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AlUla Development Co

Royal Commission for AlUla

Public Investment Fund

Bahri signs deal with IMI for first Saudi-built large-scale fleet

owen.bennett — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:46:12 +0000

article author:

Miguel Hadchity

Author:

Thu, 2025-10-02 13:41

RIYADH: ��’s national shipping carrier Bahri has ordered six Ultramax bulk carriers from International Maritime Industries, marking the Kingdom’s first large-scale commercial vessel project.

The ships will be built at IMI’s Ras Al-Khair yard, the largest maritime facility in the Middle East, and are designed for efficiency and access to ports with limited infrastructure, according to a press release.

The move to build its first Saudi-made vessels comes as part of Bahri’s ongoing fleet modernization program.

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Saudi budget carrier flyadeal begins service to Damascus

owen.bennett — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:53:41 +0000

article author:

Miguel Hadchity

Author:

Wed, 2025-10-01 17:46

RIYADH: Saudi low-cost carrier flyadeal has started direct flights to Damascus, re-establishing air links between the two countries after a period of suspended services.

The inaugural flight, arriving from Jeddah on Oct. 1, was welcomed by Abdullah Al-Harith, Saudi deputy ambassador to Syria, at Damascus International Airport.

The airline received regulatory approval earlier this year to operate to Syria, with CEO Steven Greenway announcing a planned launch in July.

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Middle Eastern airlines see 8.4% passenger growth in August: IATA

owen.bennett — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 11:26:06 +0000

article author:

MOHAMMED AL-KINANI

Author:

Wed, 2025-10-01 14:20

JEDDAH: Middle Eastern airlines recorded the second-highest passenger traffic growth globally in August, rising 8.4 percent year on year, underscoring the sector’s resilience despite geopolitical tensions, the International Air Transport Association said.

According to IATA’s latest Air Passenger Monthly Analysis, global traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPK, rose 4.6 percent year on year in August, slightly above July’s 4.1 percent, bringing total RPK to 896 billion.

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Business & Economy

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International Air Transport Association (IATA)

aviation sector

PIF-backed agritourism brand ‘Solan’ announced

owen.bennett — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 13:26:40 +0000

article author:

Miguel Hadchity

Mon, 2025-09-29 16:21

RIYADH: ��’s tourism landscape is set to transform with “Solan,” a new hospitality brand launched by Dan Co., a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund.

According to a press release, Solan aims to create a nationwide network of unique farm stay and lodge experiences, directly supporting local communities and economic diversification in line with Vision 2030.

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GCC tourism surges to $247bn as intra-regional travel accelerates

ameen.syed — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 09:42:11 +0000

article author:

Mohammed Al-Kinani

Sun, 2025-09-28 12:35

JEDDAH: Tourism across the Gulf Cooperation Council contributed $247.1 billion to the region’s economy in 2024, marking a nearly 32 percent increase compared with 2019, the latest official data showed.

According to preliminary data from the GCC Statistical Center, intra-GCC travel experienced a sharp rebound, rising 52 percent over the same period, with 19.3 million visitors traveling between member states.

Intra-regional tourism now accounts for 26.7 percent of total GCC tourism, highlighting growing cultural integration and regional mobility.

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Pakistan eyes Saudi-linked port, shipping projects to boost Gulf–China connectivity

owen.bennett — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:36:50 +0000

article author:

Ismail Dilawar

Fri, 2025-09-26 16:33

KARACHI: Pakistan is planning Saudi-linked port and shipping projects, including new gateway terminals, direct shipping routes and green ship recycling yards, as part of efforts to become a logistics bridge between the Gulf, Central Asia and China, the maritime ministry said on Friday.

Officials say Pakistan’s location at the mouth of the Arabian Sea gives it a strategic advantage in connecting Gulf energy exporters with China and the landlocked markets of Central Asia.

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��, Boeing agree deal on advanced air mobility

ameen.syed — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 09:58:38 +0000

article author:

Nirmal Narayanan

Author:

Mon, 2025-09-22 12:54

RIYADH: US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has inked an agreement with �� to explore partnerships and investments in the advanced air mobility sector.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in Washington, D.C. by a delegation from the Kingdom’s civil aviation sector, led by Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, according to a press statement.

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�� set to gain most from GCC unified visa rollout

Sajjadkk — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 19:08:41 +0000

article author:

Miguel Hadchity

Sat, 2025-09-20 21:55

RIYADH: Two years after its initial approval, the Gulf Cooperation Council’s long-awaited unified visa has entered its final approval phase — and �� is positioned to emerge as its biggest winner, experts told Arab News.

The new permit, which will allow seamless travel across all six Gulf states, promises to revolutionize regional tourism and business mobility.

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Rising demand for luxury tourism fueling success of Egypt’s El Gouna — CEO

owen.bennett — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:51:42 +0000

article author:

Donia Diaaeddine

Thu, 2025-09-18 13:34

CAIRO: Egypt’s tourism sector is entering a new era of growth, driven by rising demand for luxury real estate and diversified experiences, according to the CEO of Red Sea destination El Gouna.

In an interview with Arab News, Mohamed Amer said the town has become a model for integrated, year-round tourism that is helping the country move beyond its traditional seasonal patterns.

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Jeddah airport opens expanded duty-free with global, local brands

ameen.syed — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:32:23 +0000

article author:

Mohammed Al-Kinani

Author:

Wed, 2025-09-17 16:27

JEDDAH: Passengers traveling through Jeddah airport are set to experience a new duty-free zone, offering global and local brands as �� expands its aviation sector.

The project is managed by JAH Arabia International Duty-Free LLC, a joint venture between Germany’s Gebr. Heinemann, ��’s Astra Group, and Jordanian Duty-Free Shops. The group holds a seven-year license to operate the duty-free shop across Terminal 1 and the North Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport.

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Jordan tourism revenue rises 7.5% to $5.33bn

owen.bennett — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 11:51:28 +0000

article author:

Nadin Hassan

Wed, 2025-09-17 14:39

RIYADH: Jordan’s tourism sector reversed its declining revenue trajectory in the first eight months of 2025, posting a 7.5 percent increase as it pulled in $5.33 billion.

This was in contrast to the 3.7 percent drop seen in the same period of 2024.

Tourism income in August reached $932.2 million, up 2.6 percent from the same month of the previous year, which had seen a 0.3 percent decline, Jordan News Agency, or Petra, reported, citing preliminary data from the country’s central bank.

The growth was supported by a 14.9 percent increase in tourist arrivals.

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