Saudi Arabian Style is Becoming the New Tourism Trend
Saudi Arabian Style is Becoming the New Tourism Trend -
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), launched in June 2020, is responsible for marketing Saudi’s tourism destinations worldwide and…
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Middle East tourism: Investment, new ideas, technology and inclusivity
Middle East tourism: Investment, new ideas, technology and inclusivity -
As tourism destinations in the Middle East are widening their appeal and extending their offerings to attract FDI,…
Tourism Malaysia to woo Middle Eastern market at ATM 2022
Tourism Malaysia to woo Middle Eastern market at ATM 2022 -
Tourism Malaysia, the promotion board under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia, is participating once again in…
SAUDIA Launches Brand New In-flight Entertainment System
SAUDIA Launches Brand New In-flight Entertainment System -
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has officially revealed its brand-new in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, Beyond, during Arabian…
A new Future for Global Aviation Saudi Arabia Style
A new Future for Global Aviation Saudi Arabia Style -
Saudi Arabia without any question was able to take a lead in the global travel and tourism industry during the COVID crisis. The…
SAUDIA: A new Immersive Experience at Arabian Travel Market
SAUDIA: A new Immersive Experience at Arabian Travel Market -
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) will showcase a new three-level stand design with a range of innovative features and products…
Who is the Minister of Tourism in Saudi Arabia?
Who is the Minister of Tourism in Saudi Arabia? -
The first Minister of Tourism for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is HE Ahmed Al Khateeb. The Ministry of Tourism was established in Saudi…
From Manila to Riyadh: WTTC Global Summit heads to Saudi Arabia in November
At the closing session of its Global Summit in Manila today, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced that its 22nd event will take place in Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of…
Covid test mandatory for Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said that Umrah arriving pilgrims must present either a negative Covid-19 PCR test result or a negative rapid antigen test result taken within…
What’s in store as Saudi Arabia unveils three-year digital tourism strategy
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al Khateeb has announced a three-year Digital Tourism Strategy, as the next step in the Kingdom’s continued reform of the sector
AlUla launches new offering for sustainable transport for travellers
With an innovative pilot scheme, residents and visitors to AlUla can now experience the future of sustainable, zero emission mobility on their doorstep with the launch of a new, fully…
Saudi Arabia launches $66.6 million tourism development project
Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of a key tourism project in the Eastern Province being set up at an investment of over SR230 million ($66.6 million)
Saudi Arabia plans to transform iconic palaces into luxury hotels
Saudi Arabia launched ‘Boutique Group’, a new hospitality brand that will manage and convert a collection of iconic historic and cultural palaces in the kingdom into ultra-luxury boutique…
Real Madrid arrives in Riyadh on Emirates Expo Superjumbo, ready for Spanish Super Cup match
Emirates A380 emblazoned with the blue Expo 2020 'mobility' livery has landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, carrying one of the most popular clubs in global football; Real Madrid
Saudi civil aviation sector to contribute $74 billion to GDP by 2030
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation sector is poised for growth over next few years to contribute to GDP taking figure to more than $74.5 billion by 2030
India launches air travel bubble with Saudi Arabia to ease travel restrictions
India has announced the commencement of special direct flights between the country and Saudi Arabia as it unveils new travel bubble
Saudi Tourism Authority’s rapid growth phase includes Vacaay as a strategic digital partner to reach UK audiences
With an ambitious goal to raise the number of annual visits to 100 million by 2030, STA is investing heavily in marketing domestically and worldwide and building massive tourism…
Saudi allows entry for one dose vaccinated passengers
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued its instructions to all airlines operating in the country to allow direct entry from all countries for passengers who…
Saudi Arabia extends residence and visit visas until 31 January
Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Passports has begun to automatically extend the validity of residence permits (Iqama) and exit and re-entry visas without fees or charges until January…
ITB China ropes in Saudi as culture travel partner
ITB China, the marketplace for China’s travel industry, has announced Saudi as the Official Culture Travel Partner of ITB China Virtual 2021
AlUla receives first direct international flight
AlUla International Airport received its first-ever direct international flight, operated by leading low-cost Saudi airline flynas
AlUla welcomes guests on world’s first ‘Museum in the Sky’ flight
The world’s first “Museum in the Sky” is a joint collaboration between AlUla and SAUDIA Airlines, to highlight the significance of AlUla as a living museum
WTTC chooses Saudi Arabia for 22nd Global Summit
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global travel and tourism sector, has announced its 22nd Global Summit will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the end of…
Saudi Arabia to host over 100 cultural initiatives and events before close of 2021
At the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Vice Minister for Culture, Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, highlighted an impressive list of over 100 cultural initiatives, engagements and…
Saudi Arabia unveils Sustainable Tourism Global Centre
Saudi Arabian government has launched the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), a multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition that will accelerate the tourism sector’s transition to net…
Here’s what you need to know as Spain eases entry rules for Gulf visitors, no test or vaccine proof needed
Spain has eased entry procedures for travel purpose from the Gulf following improvement in the pandemic situation and the progress in vaccination rollout, both in Spain and the region
WTM London 2021 unveils Saudi as Premier Partner
Saudi Arabia has been announced as Premier Partner of WTM London 2021 as the country ramps up its global drive to reach 100 million visitors a year by 2030
Unveiled: Saudi’s first offshore platform tourism project
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced the launch of 'The Rig.', the world’s first tourism destination on offshore platforms
Neom and UNWTO join hands to boost Saudi tourism
UNWTO and Neom have partnered for new initiative focused on the future of tourism in Saudi Arabia with the Tourism Experiences of the Future challenge
AlUla Moments! AlUla unveils new events programme
Under the banner of AlUla Moments, AlUla’s events calendar highlights four festivals including Winter at Tantora which is back by popular demand and celebrates heritage, AlUla Skies, AlUla…
How to choose the best Hotels in Saudi?
If you are going for tourism in Saudi, then you need to book a hotel in Saudi. It is very simple and easy for everyone to go for advanced booking. In fact, it is a wonderful idea to save…
Bill Gates takes control of Four Seasons Hotels
Bill Gates' investment firm Cascades recently purchased a controlling stake in Four Seasons Hotels for a staggering US$2.21 billion from Saudi Arabia-based Kingdom Holding, as Reuters…
Saudi plans first sustainable tourism project in Al Baha
Tourism Development Fund (TDF) and Seera Group signed a financing agreement to establish and operate the Raghadan Tourist Resort, the first sustainable tourism project in the Al Baha region
IATA welcomes Saudi Arabia’s acceptance of IATA Travel Pass
IATA welcomed the decision of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to accept IATA Travel Pass to confirm pre-departure COVID-19 test results for…
Saudi Arabia gears up to receive foreign pilgrim requests
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said it will receiving Umrah performers of citizens and residents, in addition to gradually receiving Umrah requests from abroad, starting from 9…
Saudi airports registers 67% drop in international flights in 2020
The number of international passenger flights from Saudi airports dropped 66.5 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year
Saudi has reopened borders for international travellers
Saudi Arabia has reopened its borders to international tourists starting from 1 August, according to Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) officials
Vaccinated Saudi citizens can travel from 9 August
Saudi citizens who have taken two doses of any of the coronavirus vaccines approved in the country will only be allowed to travel abroad effective from 9 August
Saudi warns travel to ‘red list’ countries will invite ban
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has cautioned citizens against travelling to countries that are on the country’s no-travel list and warned that violators would be banned from travelling…
Saudi Arabia launches tickets for Formula 1 debut
2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has launched ticket sales for the country’s inaugural Formula 1 race weekend, taking place on the new Jeddah Corniche Circuit on 3-5 December
Saudi unveils initiative to issue licenses for foreign yachts in 30 minutes
Saudi Arabia has announced that it has introduced an initiative at Jeddah’s Red Sea Operations Centre to provide tourist yachts with entry licenses in half an hour
How Alula marked its debut entry at Cannes this year
A delegation from Film AlUla, the Royal Commission for AlUla’s newly established film agency, reached Cannes Film Festival to promote international film and TV production in AlUla
IATA to set up regional hub in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said it has reached an agreement with IATA to set up the aviation body’s headquarters for the MEA region
Plans for new Saudi airline to takes aim at Emirates and Qatar
Saudi Arabia plans to target international transit passenger traffic with its new national airline, going head-to-head with Gulf giants Emirates and Qatar Airways and opening a new front in…
AlUla in Saudi Arabia positions itself as new cycling holiday destination
AlUla, a boutique heritage and culture destination in North West Saudi Arabia, has chosen to partner with GreenEdge Cycling to introduce the stunning landscape of ancient civilisations to…
Saudi Arabia is open again— will it stay that way?
Taking a closer look at the Kingdom’s latest international flight reopening on 17 May as well as how Saudi Arabia’s vaccination efforts may just manage to keep its borders open
UNWTO makes history with opening of first regional office in the Middle East in Riyadh
UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has opened its first regional office for the Middle East in Riyadh, bringing the United Nations specialized agency closer to its members and advancing…
Saudi to bear Covid treatment expenses for travelling residents
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has announced it will bear expenses of treating residents and GCC citizens who need to be hospitalized after testing positive for…
Travellers to Saudi Arabia need to register vaccination status online
All travellers arriving in Saudi Arabia, including citizens of the GCC countries and holders of new visas, who have been vaccinated with one of the Covid-19 vaccines, need to register their…
Former WTTC CEO joins Saudi Tourism
Guevera will draw on more than 25 years of public and private tourism sector experience to help facilitate international collaborations, develop human capital and contribute to the delivery…
‘We are bedouins’! Theme for sixth edition of King Abdulaziz camel festival
Taking pride in the Saudi Arabian historical identity and its role in laying the first building blocks for the kingdom’s development, Saudi Arabia has announced the launch of its annual…
Saudi Arabian tourism boosted by domestic demand, gears up to welcome foreign travellers
As Saudi Arabia forges ahead with Vision 2030, with tourism earmarked as a key economic driver, tourism and travel leaders from the country convened at the ATM 2021 Saudi Arabia Tourism…
Seera and Klook ink deal to drive digital transformation of Saudi tourism sector
Seera Group has formed strategic partnership with travel and leisure booking platform Klook to support the digital transformation and robust growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.
Saudi Arabia makes week-long quarantine compulsory for international travellers
Foreign citizens arriving in Saudi Arabia must quarantine for a week in government-approved accommodation starting 20 May to combat the spread of Covid-19
Saudi Arabia to lift travel ban on citizens from 17 May
Saudi Arabia will lift the ban on its citizens travelling abroad from 17 May, the Saudi Press Agency has announced
AlUla in Saudi Arabia introduced to Indian market
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) officially launched one of the world’s most significant heritage and culture destinations to the Indian media
Vaccination certificate must for foreign Umrah traveller
Foreign Umrah pilgrims wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia will have to how a Covid-19 vaccination certificate from their respective countries.
UAE and Saudi travellers focus on mental wellbeing in post-pandemic time
New research from global traveller experiences expert Collinson has found that travellers are as worried about their mental wellbeing as they are their physical wellbeing
When will Middle East travellers return to UK and what lies ahead when they return?
VisitBritain is looking at positioning the country’s appeal as a tourism destination, improving its ranking in the eyes of international travellers and increasing visitor spending in all…
77% of MENA travellers are willing to get vaccinated for travel
Wego has released its survey on travellers’ behaviors and MENA travel trends revealing that 77% of people in the region plan to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available in their…
Saudi Arabia tops world in projected hotel supply growth
Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is the fastest growing among the 50 most populated countries in the world, reporting 73,057 rooms across the three phases of the hotel pipeline, and…
Tata Group mulls expansion in Saudi Arabia
Tata Group is looking to expand its operations in Saudi Arabia, with plans to open a new luxury hotel
UAE inbound tourism spend to top USD 25 billion by 2025
UAE’s and Saudi Arabia’s inbound tourism spend are expected to top USD 25.3 billion USD 33.5 billion, respectively, by 2025,
Saudi Tourism goes to UK
Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has opened a commercial office for the UK and Ireland as part of its strategy to engage the tourism trade in key source markets and raise awareness of Saudi
AlUla Old Town opens to travellers after three years
AlUla Old Town, one of four significant heritage sites in AlUla, has welcomed its first visitors back after a three-year hiatus for extensive restoration and conservation in sections of the…
Saudi Tourism unveils virtual trade roadshow
Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched an international virtual roadshow under the ‘Journeys in Arabia’ platform, which aims to inform and inspire travel trade partners about the diverse…
Saudi citizens married to non-Saudis can now travel abroad
Saudis married to non-Saudis are allowed to travel with their spouse or join them abroad in case they reside outside the kingdom due to work or otherwise
Saudi Arabia announces USD 3 billion luxury mountain hub plan
Saudi Arabia has announced plans for development of a luxury mountain destination with immersive cultural experiences and celebration of the natural assets empowering the local and national…
Saudi Tourism Authority unveils winter travel offering
Saudi Tourism Authority has launched new tourism packages as part of the Saudi Arabian Winter Season
First-ever destination brand campaign for AlUla, Saudi Arabia unveiled
The campaign, developed by the Royal Commission for AlUla includes a film directed by renowned cinematographer Bruno Aveillan and a suite of digital assets under the concept of The World’s…
Emirates Unveils New Premium Economy in it’s A380
Emirates has unveiled details of its Premium Economy offering in its new Airbus A380, which offers 56 seats in a 2-4-2 cabin layout.
Saudi Arabia aims to attract USD 58 billion investments in tourism by 2023
Saudi Arabia is aiming to attract new investments worth SAR 220 billion (USD 58 billion) by 2023, and more than SAR 500 billion (USD 133.27 billion) until 2030
UAE and Saudi Arabia top global survey for intent to travel abroad in 2021
‘Global Holiday Intent’ survey conducted by YouGov has revealed that residents in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the most likely to make an international trip in 2021.
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla opens bookings and unveils new experiences
A city in North West Saudi Arabia and the historical crossroad of ancient civilisations, AlUla, has officially reopened for visitors
Nine in 10 young Saudis look towards emerging tourism and hospitality careers
Young Saudis are more interested in careers towards the tourism and hospitality industries aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Reopening soon: Saudi Arabia to allow entry to foreign pilgrims from 1 November
Saudi Arabia will be allowing foreign pilgrims to enter the country to perform Umrah from 1 November onwards.
UAE and Saudi hotels making faster recovery
Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region hotels sector recovery will start in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continue in 2021
How G20 tourism leaders have committed to intensify efforts towards sustainable recovery
Tourism ministers of the G20 nations have committed to stepping up their efforts to place sustainability and inclusion at the heart of tourism recovery and future growth
Saudi Arabia leads hospitality recovery in Middle East
Saudi Arabia is showing the strongest recovery in Middle East, with advance hotel booking steadily rising, as per latest report by hotel connectivity expert eRevMax
Saudi Arabia restarts Umrah pilgrimage from 4 October
Saudi Arabia will re-allow performance of Umrah in stages beginning from 4 October after seven months of closure due to the Covid-19 concerns
Saudi Arabia to become a UNWTO Center for 13 Countries
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has approved the setting up of a regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to support the growth of Middle East’s tourism sector as it recovers from the…
Clear breach: Qatar Airways seeks USD 5 billion from UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt over airspace ban
The arbitrations seek redress for the blockading states’ actions to remove the airline from their markets and to forbid the airline from flying over their airspace
UK visa services resume in four Middle East countries
From 28 June, UK Visas and Immigration has begun a phased resumption of services at Visa Application Centres in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia (Al Khobar, Jeddah, Riyadh) and the UAE (Abu…
Saudi Tourism Authority unveils domestic campaign
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has unveiled a new campaign, entitled Saudi Summer, to encourage residents to explore the kingdom this year. The decision comes as the country bans…
Middle East’s hotel construction pipeline slows down in first quarter of 2020
Analysts at Lodging Econometrics (LE) state in the first quarter of 2020, the hotel construction pipeline in the Middle East decelerated slightly to 607 projects or 172,182 rooms, down…
WTTC implores G20 leaders to save tourism sector
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urged the G20 leaders to execute crucial measures to save the travel and tourism sector following COVID-19, in a virtual meeting hosted by…
Rotana strengthens Saudi Arabia portfolio with addition of DAMAC Towers Arjaan by Rotana in Riyadh
Rotana announced that it took over the management of DAMAC Towers Arjaan by Rotana in Riyadh, with the property set to open in early April. The announcement follows a partnership signed…
Robust Saudi arrivals to Mauritius in January
According to the latest statistics released from the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), visitors to Mauritius from Saudi Arabia increased 137% in January 2020 compared to the…
First Grand Hyatt in Makkah announced
Hyatt Hotels announced that its affiliate has entered into a management agreement with Umm Alqura for development and construction of a Grand Hyatt branded hotel in the holy city of…
Low-cost carriers to boost Middle East aviation market
Low-cost carriers are driving growth in the Middle East aviation market, recording a 9.3% increase in seat capacity in 2019, according to CAPA Centre for Aviation. Indeed, the share of…
Al Rajhi Aviation reaffirms partnership with Sabre
Al Rajhi Aviation, Saudi Arabia’s travel provider, has renewed an exclusive partnership with leading technology provider, Sabre Corporation, to support its plans to expand regionally and…
VisitBritain unveils annual destination training roadshow in Middle East
In a bid to showcase the offerings of the country in the Middle East, VisitBritain hosted its road show in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It is focused on inspiring visitors to explore…
Marriott unveils plans for new Makkah property
Marriott International has signed a landmark agreement with Nahdet Al-Mashaer to open a 2,600-room Fairfield by Marriott property in Makkah. The deal is expected to deliver the first…
Pegasus launches Medina and Batumi routes
Turkey’s airline Pegasus continues to expand its network with the launch of two new routes. The launch of Medina will make it the airline’s fourth destination in Saudi Arabia, in…
IndiGo goes to Dammam
In a bid to expand its international operations and strengthens its presence in the Middle East, IndiGo has announced the launch of Dammam as its 24th international and 87th overall…
Ascott opens doors to Saudi Arabia hotel
The Ascott is strengthening its Saudi Arabia portfolio with the opening of its eagerly anticipated Ascott Corniche Al Khobar property, marking its sixth operational residence in the…
voco Al Khobar: The new luxury hotspot opens in Saudi
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched its second voco hotel in Saudi Arabia in partnership with developer Wasata Al Wosta Real Estate Co.
Offering a spacious, modern,…
Dur Hospitality to manage three hotels in Saudi Arabia
Dur Hospitality has signed lease, management and operation contracts for three hotels in the central area of Madinah, Saudi Arabia with Al-Manakha Urban Project Development Holding…
Millennium Hotels and Resorts to grow its Saudi Arabia footprint
Millennium Hotels & Resorts has revealed development plans for Saudi Arabia with a goal of operating 25 hotels kingdom-wide by 2025.
ATM events focus on Saudi, India, China outbound
The upcoming Arabian Travel Market 2020 (ATM) in Dubai, UAE has launched a new series of buyer forums and networking events focused on India, Saudi Arabia, China and Russia’s growing…
WTTC joins hands with Saudi for Vision 2030
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the global body that represents the private sector of the travel and tourism industry, has announced a partnership with the Saudi…
Love a staycation? Airbnb reveals strong trend amongst UAE residents
More and more UAE nationals and residents prefer staycations, even during the hottest months. Crunching three-months’ worth of numbers from 22 May-22 August (a key booking period for…
Kerten Hospitality gears up for Middle East debut
Specialist mixed-use operator Kerten Hospitality is bringing its boutique hotel brand – The House Hotel – to the Middle East region for the first time, with The House Hotel Jeddah as…
Saudi women get new right of allowing their kids to travel
Mothers in Saudi Arabia will be able to apply for passports for children in their custody and approve travel abroad under new guidelines that represent a further chipping away of…
AmEx Global Business Travel forms Middle East joint venture
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), business partner for managed travel, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Kanoo Travel, a travel…
Aman Resorts to debut in ME with three hotels
Marking the company's first entry into Saudi Arabia, the hotel and resort brand Aman has signed a partnership deal with the Royal Commission for Al Ula (RCU) to develop its first Middle…
Saudi Arabia allows women to travel independently
Women in Saudi Arabia can now travel abroad without a male guardian’s permission. The new rule announced allows women over the age of 21 to apply for a passport without authorisation,…
Riyadh’s midscale hotel sector greatest potential for developers
Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh has great potential for midscale hotel growth. This was revealed by a study by Drees & Sommer. According to the study, it is a good time for the…
SpiceJet to operate 148 special flights for Hajj pilgrims
Ushering in the Hajj season with great fervour, SpiceJet has announced that it will operate 148 special flights for the grand annual Islamic pilgrimage. SpiceJet is all set to carry…
IndiGo announces flights to Jeddah, Dubai and Kuwait
IndiGo has announced six new flights to the Middle East to enhance international connectivity. Effective from 25 July and 5 August, the airline will launch daily non-stop flights…
Saudi hospitality market top performer in MENA region
Despite a drop in earning across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) hospitality sector in May, Saudi Arabia’s hotel market emerged as the top performer, recording the highest…
THAI arranges 15 special flights for Hajj
Thai Airways International (THAI) has arranged special flights for Thai Muslims to attend the Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, with flights departing from Narathiwat Airport to Medina…
Destination Riyadh on SpiceJet now
SpiceJet launched eight new non-stop international flights from the country’s busiest metros of Mumbai and Delhi. The airline is the first Indian low-cost carrier (LCC) to connect Mumbai…
Flynas Airbus deal to open global routes
Flynas, Saudi Arabia's low-cost airline, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 10 A321XLR aircraft, the longest range variant of the A320. As part of the…
Saudi Arabia launches drive to boost Hajj, Umrah travel
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz, with the follow-up of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has launched the Enriching Hajj & Umrah Experience programme, one of the most…
IndiGo to unveil two new international routes this July
IndiGo is set to launch two new international routes from July. These will be Mumbai-Dammam (Saudi Arabia) and Chennai-Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). It will also unveil a second direct flight…
5 reasons why Cyprus is the GCC’s destination this summer
GCC travellers looking to escape the region’s escalating summer heat should look no further than the idyllic island of Cyprus for their summer vacation destination, according to Savvas…
Travel tech this week: Uber’s “Women Preferred View” and more
This week, we saw incredible features from the ride-hailing and car rental sector. Following Saudi Arabia’s grant license to drive to women, Uber launches women-only drivers. Meanwhile,…
5 countries with the biggest increase in popularity
Exotic destinations are rising in popularity as travellers are shunning traditional holiday destinations.
“A pleasure to experience their mindset”: Mövenpick GM Jean-Pierre Trabut on Thai hospitality
Mövenpick Siam Hotel Na Jomtien Pattaya GM, Jean-Pierre Trabut, has bounced all around the world building his reputation as a driven and successful hospitality executive along the way.
Hot hotel openings: AccorHotels’ Novotel Vijayawada Varun and more
In this week's edition of hot hotel openings, we've included new properties from AccorHotels, Velas Resorts, Ruby Hotels, Deutsche Hospitality and Hilton.
Hyatt to roll out mobile room entry and security to all hotels by 2020
ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, self-described provider of “advanced security solutions” for the hospitality sector has revealed it has completed the implementation of its ‘Mobile Entry’ tool at the…
Saudi opens up its borders with electronic visa for sports fans
Saudi Arabia has revealed it will be refreshing its border policy in 2018 with the announcement of a new visa for culture vultures and sports fans looking to visit the country.
Choice Hotels expands ground in Saudi with seven new properties
Choice Hotels International announced plans to bring seven additional hotels to Saudi Arabia under its Comfort and Quality brands.
Rotana announces fifth hotel in Saudi Arabia
Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, announced the launch of Centro Salama Jeddah, the first hotel project to be funded and developed…
Malta Tourism Authority targets Middle East travellers
Malta Tourism Authority is trying to attract more travellers from Middle East countries by opening a promotion office in United Arab Emirates.
Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh launches Saudisation programme
The Saudi nationalisation scheme or Saudisation, a government directive to boost the country’s workforce with Saudi nationals, has come into effect with gusto at Ascott Rafal Olaya Riyadh…
Ascott offers Hajj specials across its brands in the Middle East
The Ascott Limited has announced special offers for guests, in celebration of the upcoming holy pilgrimage of Hajj.
All you need to know about travelling to Hajj
With Hajj 2018 almost upon us, the experts at Skyscanner answer all our Hajj travel queries.
Four Points by Sheraton to open its largest ever property
Marriott International is all set to open its biggest property in the world yet, with the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseem in Saudi Arabia. It will add 1,100 rooms to the…
Sudan appoints VFS Global for first visa application centre in Saudi Arabia
The Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today announced the opening of its first ever visa application centre in the world in Riyadh in partnership with VFS…
H Hospitality to expand with first hotel project in Makkah
H Hospitality Collection, the hotel management company of Abu Dhabi Capital Group, has been selected by Jabal Omar Development Company to manage its new 5-star hotel development in the Holy…
Marriott signs triple deal with Al Murjan Group to expand in Saudi Arabia
Marriott International has signed three deals with the Al Murjan Group, to further strengthen its portfolio in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
IHG seizes Saudi’s strong tourism sector with Crowne Plaza Riyadh
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the opening of Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace, its 32nd property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Gulf Air’s new 787-9 Dreamliner operates regional routes before taking on Bahrain – London
Gulf Air has announced it will launch its newly delivered Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its Jeddah route and a number of other regional services, in order to put the aircraft through its paces…
IHG signs agreement to debut Holiday Inn Express in Saudi Arabia
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Saudi Arabian business conglomerate Al Hokair Group, which will see the debut of Holiday Express Inn…
Hilton Garden Inn continues to bloom with four new global properties
Hilton’s midscale brand announces robust growth with new openings in Las Vegas City Center and three international destinations.
IHG continues expansion with opening of Crowne Plaza Riyadh – RDC Hotel and Convention Center
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) extends its reach in the Middle East with the opening of The Crowne Plaza Riyadh – RDC Hotel and Convention Center.
See the edge of the world with Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh
Adventure awaits in the heart of the Arabian Desert as the new Extraordinary Experience takes guests through Bedouin history and a breath-taking landscape.
Ritz-Carlton Riyadh ‘gilded prison’ hotel to reopen
The Ritz-Carlton, which has been a detention centre for princes and top officials, is taking bookings again after being on lockdown since November 2017.
Asian air route updates from Hainan Airlines, AirAsia, Qatar Airways and more
China gets reconnected to Belgrade
Where? Beijing (China) to Belgrade (Serbia)
When? Twice a week, effective 15 September 2017
Who? Hainan Airlines
Why? Expanding links with Europe as…
Malaysia’s new A380 airline to launch in 2018
Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that its new pilgrimage charter airline will commence operations in the third quarter of 2018.
The new subsidiary will utilise the national carrier's…
Changi to manage Saudi airport
A consortium led by Singapore's Changi Airports International (CAI) has been given the right to operate King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia’s General…
Hilton Makkah Convention Hotel opens its doors
Hilton Makkah Convention Hotel has opened its doors.
With majestic views overlooking the Sacred Mosque, Al Masjid al Haram, and the city’s largest ballroom and convention centre,…
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts expands in KSA with property in brand new city
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has entered a management agreement with Karan Gulf Services for a new hotel within Saudi Arabia’s Wa’ad Al Shamal industrial city.
The 237-room hotel is…
Saudi tourism authority to pay out $106 million loan
Saudi Arabia's Commission for Tourism and National Heritage has set aside 397 million riyals ($105.86 million) for 2017 to support a new lending program for hospitality and tourism projects,…
Saudi Arabia to roll out record number of hotel rooms in 2017
A record 68 new hotels spanning some 29,033 hotel rooms will open across Saudi Arabia this year, according to the Saudi Arabia Hotel Construction Overview report released by TOPHOTELPROJECTS…
Qatar Airways to launch Yanbu and Tabuk services
Qatar Airways is to launch services to Yanbu and Tabuk in – its ninth and tenth destinations in KSA.
It will operate three-weekly flights to Yanbu from May 9 and to Tabuk from June…
SAUDIA to launch new Manchester-Riyadh service
Saudi Arabian flag carrier SAUDIA has announced a twice weekly service from Manchester Airport to Riyadh.
Launching on the 23rd of June, it complements the current offer of five…
UK targets Saudi tourism growth with new office
VisitBritain has opened a new office in Riyadh to attract more visitors from Saudi Arabia to the UK, making it the first Western tourism board to establish a presence in the country.
The…
Where to Stay: New hotels in Laos, Australia, the US and more
Banyan Tree's The Grand Luang Prabang
Location: On the banks of the Mekong River in the UNESCO-listed town of Luang Prabang, northern Laos
Grade: Luxury
Keys: 75
Facilities:…
Dur Hospitality launches first annual roadshow
Dur Hospitality’s hotel operation division has launched its first annual roadshow.
The event kicked off in Riyadh on January 24th at Riyadh Palace Hotel, and will continue with…
Asian air route updates: Thai Lion Air, S7 Airlines, and more…
Thai Lion roars into Western China
Where? Bangkok (Thailand) to Chengdu (China)
When? Daily, effective 1 March 2017
Who? Thai Lion Air
Why? Mainly serving rising Chinese tourist…
Flynas signs deal with Airbus for 60 A320s
Flynas has signed an agreement with Airbus for 60 A320neo aircraft.
The Saudi low-cost carrier has also converted 20 A320ceo from a previous order to A320neo, bringing the airline’s…
Asian air route updates: Saudia, Vanilla Air and more
Pakistan gets new pilgrimmage flights
Where? Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) to Multan (Pakistan)
When? Four times a week, effective 1 April 2017
Who? Saudi Arabian Airlines
Why? Trade and…
Etihad to introduce third daily service to Riyadh
Etihad Airways is introducing a third daily flight on the Abu Dhabi – Riyadh route, effective 1 February 2017.
The extra services underscore the airline’s commitment to offer guests…
Jet Airways goes wide on series of routes
India's Jet Airways is increasing seat capacity on several routes with the introduction of its wide-bodied aircraft.
Airbus A330s will be deployed on routes connecting Mumbai with…
New Saudi authority appointed to develop theme parks industry
A new Saudi authority charged with developing, promoting, regulating and funding infrastructure for an entertainment industry in the Gulf kingdom has appointed its board.
The Council of…
Careem closes first round of funding
Ride-hailing app Careem has closed the first part of a $500 million funding round.
It is being back by investors that include Japan's Rakuten Inc and Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the…
Langham Hospitality Group to debut in Jeddah
Langham Hospitality Group has signed a deal with Advanced Hotels Company to manage a luxury urban hotel in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Strategically located within the downtown…
Minor Hotels to debut Anantara brand in KSA
Minor Hotels (MH), a hotel owner, operator and investor, currently with a portfolio of 155 hotels and resorts in 23 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America,…
New A380 airline to target pilgrimage market
Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that it is “finalising plans” for the formation of a new airline.
The new operation will utilise the national carrier's six Airbus A380 aircraft to…
Rosewood Jeddah unveils new Executive Lounge
The five-star Rosewood Jeddah has unveiled a new stylish Executive Lounge.
Extensive business facilities within the hotel, including its nine meeting spaces and boardrooms and dedicated…
AVIAREPS ME travel caravan stops in Saudi Arabia
AVIAREPS, the global representation leader providing international market growth opportunities to a portfolio of more than 100 airlines and 150 travel and tourism clients worldwide, arrived…
Korean Air reveals route shake-up
Korean Air is adding two destinations and cutting two in a significant shake-up of its network.
The national carrier has revealed plans to launch non-stop flights between Seoul and…
Marriott to manage Four Points by Sheraton in Riyadh
Marriott International has signed an agreement with Al Maryia Real Estate Establishment to open a Four Points by Sheraton in Riyadh.
Scheduled to open in 2019, Four Points by…
Rocco Forte’s Assila Hotel opens its doors in Jeddah
Rocco Forte Hotels has opened the doors to the hotly-anticipated Assila Hotel in Jeddah.
Located in city’s most fashionable business and shopping district, Assila Hotel is the ideal…
Saudi’s Makarem Hotels reveals expansion plans
Established Saudi hospitality firm, Makarem Hotels, has revealed plans to expand its presence in the Kingdom.
The company, part of Riyadh-based Dur Hospitality Company, is eyeing…
Qatar ups services to Dammam and Riyadh
Qatar Airways has announced an increase in services to Dammam and Riyadh, connecting travellers from Saudi Arabia to more than 150 worldwide destinations through the award-winning Hamad…
Etihad Dreamliner touches down in Riyadh
Etihad Airways’ latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner route was launched today with the state-of-the art aircraft touching down in Riyadh, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The occasion…
Saudia takes modular approach to IATA’s New Distribution Capability
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has decided to implement the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) New Distribution Capability (NDC) in a modular approach.
The carrier has…
Gulf Air and Swissport sign KSA ground handling deal
Gulf Air has signed a ground handling services contract with Swissport Saudi Arabia, a subsidiary of ground and air cargo services provider, Swissport International.
The agreement…
Smart tech elevates guest experience at Conrad Makkah
Smart technology is redefining the way hotels in Saudi Arabia can enable customised, one-of-a-kind experiences for their guests who expect to connect to everything all the time wherever they…
Gulf Air ups Riyadh service to five daily
Gulf Air will increase the frequency of its flights to and from Riyadh from 32 to 35 weekly flights starting from 30 October 2016 to meet high passenger demand.
The airline’s…
Preferred Hotels & Resorts signs first hotels in KSA and Bahrain
Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest global provider of sales, marketing and distribution services to independent luxury hotels, continues to expand its Middle East portfolio…
Malaysia Airlines to use six A380s for Hajj
Malaysia Airlines has revealed plans to use six surplus Airbus A380 superjumbos to form the core of a fleet of 700-seat jets dedicated to transporting Muslim travellers on the annual hajj…
Mövenpick Hotel City Star Jeddah opens its doors
Mövenpick Hotel City Star Jeddah, a unique European-style property in one of Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing cities, opened this week.
The 228-room property, which marks the Swiss…
KSA needs 8,000 new tourist guides by 2030
Saudi Arabia needs 8,000 new tourist guides by 2030 as it expands its tourism industry under plans to diversify the national economy, local media have reported.
Arab News attributed the…
Saudia plans fleet upgrade
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) will acquire 63 aircraft as part of a fleet modernisation programme, a top executive has told state news agency SPA.
The airline will acquire 15 Boeing…
Conrad Makkah bolsters Saudisation efforts
Conrad Makkah has signalled its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Saudisation targets, which include increasing the number of jobs occupied by Saudi nationals in the country’s booming…
Jeddah’s airport stretched beyond capacity
King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah could soon overcapacity issues, an airport official has told local media.
In 2016 the airport is set to report its busiest year yet, with…
Starwood opens first Aloft in KSA
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has opened its first Aloft-branded hotel in Saudi Arabia.
The 281-room Aloft Riyadh is located in the centre of the city, at the intersection of…
ABTA warns pilgrims over Hajj fraud
With 25,000 pilgrims estimated to be heading overseas to Saudi Arabia from the UK for Hajj in the next few days and spending up to £125 million on their travel arrangements, ABTA is warning…
Thailand to double visa-on-arrival fee
Thailand will double its visa-on-arrival fee from THB1,000 to THB2,000 (US$29 to US$58) next month.
The Nation reports that the new charge will come into effect on 27 September, and…
Starwood signs agreement for new Sheraton in Makkah
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is to expand its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the signing of a new Sheraton in the holy city of Makkah.
Owned by Altayyar…
Jeddah boosts investment in tourism infrastructure
Jeddah is to benefit from an investment boost in tourism infrastructure, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage of Makkah director Mohammad bin Abdullah Al-Omari has…
Fairmont releases Hajj guide for guests
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has released a visual guide to Hajj to help guests who are embarking on the holy Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah.
This infographic, produced in collaboration…
Rotana prepares to open first hotel in Jeddah
Rotana is preparing to open its first hotel in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The 252-room Centro Shaheen Jeddah, located on Madinah Road, is the group’s third hotel in the country, joining the…
Travelport signs long-term deal with Roibek Travel
Travelport has signed a long-term deal with Saudi Arabia’s Roibek Travel.
It will see all 55 branches of Roibek, which are located across KSA, use Travelport technology exclusively.…
More than 35,000 hotel rooms planned for KSA
Saudi Arabia has the most hotel rooms under construction in the Middle East and Africa, with more than 35,000 currently being built, according to hospitality industry analysts, STR. …
KSA hotels report Ramadan revenue surge: STR
Makkah and Medina in Saudi Arabia were the only major hotel markets in the Middle East to experience increases in revenue per available room (RevPAR) during Ramadan 2016, according to data…
Conrad Makkah promises guests efficient access to Holy City
Conrad Makkah recently opened its doors, offering pilgrims easy access to the Holy City.
It is one of the few hotels in Makkah to offer direct access to the Al Haram via 12 elevators…
Gerry’s dnata signs ground-handling deal with Saudia
Gerry’s dnata, the largest ground handler in Pakistan, has signed a multi-year agreement with Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) to provide full ground handling services for the airline’s…
Swissôtel to open second hotel in Makkah
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts has entered into an agreement with Sarah Towers For Real Estate Investment Company to manage the 1,624-room Swissôtel Al Maqam, Makkah in the Kingdom of Saudi…
Accor opens first Novotel in Yanbu
AccorHotels has opened the new seaside Novotel in Yanbu, the Red Sea port city in the western province of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
With this latest addition, AccorHotels has a total…
New ID bracelets for Saudi pilgrims
Saudi Arabia will introduce electronic identification bracelets for all pilgrims to Makkah starting this year, Saudi media said on Thursday.
It’s part of a safety drive a year after the…
Two new Radisson Blus for KSA
Two new Radisson Blu hotels will open in Saudi Arabia by the end of the year, operator Rezidor, part of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has revealed.
Radisson Blu Resort Half Moon Bay,…
Middle East hotels gain during Ramadan: STR
An STR analysis of the first half of Ramadan 2016 indicates that Mecca, was the only major hotel market in the Middle East to experience an increase in revenue per available room…
Aloft hotels gear up for KSA launch
Aloft Hotels will soon launch its first hotels in Saudi Arabia with the 281-room Aloft Riyadh and 262-room Aloft Dhahran.
The hotel concept, a first of its kind in the Kingdom will…
Jet Airways adds more Gulf routes
Jet Airways will expand its Gulf operations in August with the launch of new flights to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
On 7 August 2016, the Indian carrier will commence daily services…
Starwood Hotels expand in Saudi Arabia
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc recently announced signing of an agreement with Saudi Real Estate Company (Al-Akaria) to open two new hotels in Riyadh.
The two properties…
Conrad Hotels opens in Makkah
Conrad Hotels & Resorts recently celebrated the opening of its first hotel in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The new property overlooks the Sacred Mosque, Al Masjid al Haram, and…
AccorHotels’ Pullman ZamZam opens in Madinah
AccorHotels recently announced the opening of Pullman ZamZam Madinah in Madinah.
The property is located within the Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the second-holiest mosque in Islam and…
Flynas expands its Abu Dhabi frequency
Flynas recently announced its intent to increase capacity new flights linking Abu Dhabi with Riyadh and Jeddah.
Effective on 23 June 2016, the airline will add a second daily service…
KSA to witness 43% increase in inbound tourist by 2020
Recent research reports and data provided by Deloitte forecasts that there will be a 43% increase in number of inbound tourist arrivals to Saudi Arabia by 2020.
According to figures…
Hilton’s German and Austrian properties on UAE, KSA visit
In a recent development, a delegation of Hilton general managers from Austria and Germany, alongside Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, vice president of Northern, Central & Eastern Europe,…
The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia officially inaugurated
The fourth annual Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2016 was officially inaugurated.
The show is being held under the Patronage of HH Prince Abdullah bin Saud bin Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al…
Jet Airways doubles services to Dammam
Jet Airways will launch two more daily services to the Saudi Arabian city of Dammam next month.
Effective 9 June 2016, the Indian carrier will double the frequency of its flights from…
Swissport Saudi Arabia inks contract with Jazeera Airways
Swissport Saudi Arabia recently inked a contract with Jazeera Airways KSC for ground handling services at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khaled International…
WTTC commends Saudi Arabia’s tourism focus to boost economy
In a recent development, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has recognised the Government of Saudi Arabia’s efforts in adopting tourism as a key sector to help diversify economy…
Jeddah’s hospitality industry to get a boost by 2018
A recent industry report has stated that number of hotel rooms in Jeddah is forecast to double by 2018.
The 'Jeddah Hotel Market Overview' report by JLL prepared ahead of The Hotel…
Campbell Gray Living launches in Amman
Campbell Gray Hotels recently launched the Campbell Gray Living in in Amman. The development has been done by Al Seraje Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Audeh Group.
The Campbell Gray…
Millennium Hotel Hail’s Saudization efforts recognised
In light of the growing focus on Saudization, Millennium Hotel Hail recently received a platinum rating for Saudization under the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Nitaqat system.
The…
Copthorne hotel Riyadh opens for business
Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East and Africa (MEA) recently announced opening of Copthorne Hotel Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The four-star hotel will be the first Copthorne hotel to…
Saudi Arabia’s key projects in the spotlight
Preparations for the Hotel Show Saudi Arabia is fast getting underway.
The event scheduled to be held from 17-19 May 2016 will feature a range of industry experts highlighting key…
Flynas signs codeshare agreement with Pegasus Airlines
flynas has announced launch of codeshare flights with Pegasus Airlines as part of efforts to expand its route network in Turkey.
The first phase of the agreement between the two…
Fairmont to expand its luxury portfolio
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced signing of two new luxury hotel developments in Morocco and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The two new projects include Fairmont Taghazout Bay in…
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island looks to boost its numbers from KSA
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island recently welcomed increased connectivity from Saudi Arabia.
The launch of Saudia airlines twice-a-week flights into Malé will boost arrivals from the…
Hyatt’s expansion plans focus on KSA and UAE
In a recent development, Hyatt emphasized its focus upon the brand’s expansion into key regional markets of UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made at the on-going…
HMH targets the Saudi market
In keeping with its strategy to prioritize expansion in GCC, HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings is aggressively targeting opportunities in KSA.
Laurent A Voivenel, CEO of HMH said:…
KSA retains top position for Seychelles
The Seychelles Tourism Board Office in Dubai recently concluded its participation in the Riyadh Travel Show. The show welcomed nearly 20,000 visitors.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is…
Basma Group Sharjah enters into strategic partnership with KBW Investments
In a recent development looking to bolstering an existing partnership, HE Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of Basma Group Sharjah and HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal,…
Riyadh welcomes Air Arabia Jordan’s inaugural flight
Riyadh recently welcomed Air Arabia Jordan’s first flight from Amman.
The new destination joins Dammam, Medina and Jeddah as Saudi Arabian cities served by direct Air Arabia Jordan…
Gulf Air increases capacity to KSA
In a recent development, Gulf Air announced its intent to increase its Gassim service, which was launched in January 2015.
Service to Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport will,…
AccorHotels strengthens its presence in KSA
AccorHotels recently signed a management agreement with Al-Mohammadia Almotahda for an upper midscale Novotel Suites in Al Khobar.
The 196-key property is the fourth project between…
KHI sells its interest in Zambia Hotel for US$36 million
Kingdom Hotel Investments (KHI) has announced its intent to sell its 100% interest in the InterContinental Hotel Lusaka to QG Africa Hotel LP, a Mauritius-based fund managed by QG…
Turkish Airlines boosts its services to KSA
Turkish Airlines recently launched new flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, Ankara Esenboga and Trabzon airports to Riyadh, Jeddah and Medina.
The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen - Jeddah and…
KSA looks at boost in mid-market hotel development
The hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia is witnessing a significant shift towards development of mid-range hotels in 2016, according to a new report.
With a market dominated by…
Rezidor announces Nofa Resort and Club
Rezidor recently announced the Nofa Resort and Club, a luxury private member’s club located outside Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
The existing property with 57 luxury villas will join the…
Air Arabia Jordan launches flights to Riyadh
Air Arabia Jordan has announced the launch of a new route from Amman to Riyadh effective 14 April 2016.
Flights will be operational three times weekly. This will be Air Arabia…
Ascott signs second serviced residences in Al Khobar
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has continued its expansion in Saudi Arabia with the signing of its second serviced residences - Ascott Corniche Al Khobar.
The signing event was held in…
StayWell enters Saudi Arabia with double development
Australia’s StayWell Hospitality Group has signed a management agreement for its first ever hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Two Park Regis properties are both scheduled to open Makkah in…
Oman boosts its tourism awareness in KSA
The Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with Oman Air continued its campaign ‘Discover Oman's Beauty’ Workshop at Movenpick Jeddah.
The campaign, which was…
Makkah witnesses a boom in hotel construction
Recent reports have detailed that the city of Makkah is leading in hotel development with 24,133 rooms currently in the construction pipeline. Riyadh follows with 10,053 rooms and Jeddah…
FRHI Hotels & Resorts to boost its Middle East portfolio
FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) has announced its intent to expand its presence in the Middle East, including Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the opening of four new properties.
“Our…
Mövenpick expands its presence in KSA
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts (MHR) has revealed plans to open its first hotel and apartment property in Jeddah in 2017.
The new property has been planned in a bid to meet strong…
Riyadh Spring festival attracts huge numbers
Recent statistics state that more than 150,000 people visited Riyadh Spring Festival during its first two days.
The event is organized by the Riyadh municipality and is being held in…
Millennium Hotel Hail opens for business
Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East and Africa (MEA) recently announced the launch of Millennium Hotel Hail in Saudi Arabia.
The opening ceremony was attended by HRH Prince Saud…
Gulf Air participates at Saudi Aramco Travel Fair 2016
In a bid to increase awareness of its product offering, Gulf Air recently participated at the Saudi Aramco Travel Fair.
The event witnessed over 50 travel and hospitality exhibitors.…
Embassy by Hilton to debut in the Middle East
Hilton Worldwide and Hamad Abdulaziz Almousa Trading Group have signed a management agreement to open Embassy by Hilton Riyadh King Fahd Road.
It will be the first upscale Embassy by…
KSA says 66 islands ready for tourism investment
Saudi Arabia has 66 islands that are ready for tourism investment and infrastructure, according to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH).
Rustom Al-Kubaisi,…
VFS Global opens Hungary visa application centres in KSA
VFS Global has opened Hungarian Visa Application Centres across three cities in Saudi Arabia.
Located in Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabians can now submit visa applications…
Riyadh Travel Fair 2016 expected to be largest ever
Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2016 is expected to be the biggest ever, with more than 20,000 visitors, according to the show organisers.
In its eighth consecutive year, located at the Al…
Swiss- Belhotel International reveals KSA hotel
Swiss-Belhotel International has signed a four-star hotel in Al Khobar, with operations expected to commence by the end of 2016.
It will be the first property in the Eastern Province of…
Saudia welcomes first Dreamliners
Saudi Arabian Airlines has taken delivery of its first two Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The new aircraft form part of a triple delivery to the Saudi Arabian national carrier, comprising…
Air India Express boosts Kerala-Middle East flights
Air India Express has unveiled plans to launch a series of new flights connecting the southern state of Kerala with the Middle East.
The low-cost carrier will add a second daily…
Middle East hotel figures slump in 2015
Hotels in the Middle East reported negative year-end 2015 results, while hotels in Africa recorded mostly positive results in the three key performance metrics, according to data from STR…
The Hotel Show 2016 to take off in KSA
Saudi Arabia will soon play host to the 2016 edition of The Hotel Show which will take place from 17-19 May at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.
The event is being held under…
Makkah hotel occupancies on the rise
Hotel occupancy rates in Makkah reached 90% due to Umrah pilgrims and visitors for the Umrah season and mid-academic year vacations.
Sources in the hospitality sector in Makkah say…
Dubai, Turkey, Egypt top Saudis travel list
Recent research suggest that Saudis chose their vacation destination on many factors, including the trip cost, duration of stay and time of the year.
However, just five percent of…
Swissôtel to expand in Saudi Arabia
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts recently announced an agreement with Mohammed Ibrahim Al Subeaei & Sons Investment Company (MASIC) to manage the 180-room Swissôtel Al Khobar in Saudi…
Flynas launches direct flights to Khartoum
flynas recently launched direct services from Dammam to Khartoum, describing it as a strategic move to continue growing the airline’s footprint in wider Middle East region.
The…
Amadeus inks partnership with Flyin.com
Amadeus recently announced the adoption of its services by Flyin.com, the first online travel agency from Saudi Arabia and MENA region.
As part of the partnership, Amadeus Saudi…
Wyndham expands Ramada brand presence in Middle East
Wyndham Hotel Group recently announced plans to open four new hotels across Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Bahrain under its Ramada brand.
The hotels include the 161-room Ramada Resort Dead…
Smartphone users top the list from KSA, UAE: Destinia
Destinia recently revealed that over a third (34%) of travellers from KSA and UAE book their flights using smartphones compared with only 12% from Germany, 11% of travellers from…
flynas lands in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Airports recently welcomed flynas’ inaugural flight from Riyadh.
The airline commenced its new service with a direct flight, five times per week. Eng Ahmad Al Haddabi, chief…
Emirates adds new service to Riyadh
In a bid to expand its market in the Kingdom, Emirates will boost its services to Riyadh with addition of a third daily flight.
The new service will commence from 15 December 2015.…
Wings to establish Saudi Arabia operation
Wings Travel Management recently announced its intent to establish operations in Saudi Arabia.
The company has operated in the Middle East via its wholly owned Dubai office since…
Hotel industry in Makkah expected to boom in 2016
The hospitality industry in Makkah is on a positive mode.
After a three-year lull, the hotel industry in the holy city is expected to pick up starting next year, according to general…
Emirates boosts capacity to Jeddah
Emirates recently announced its intent to add four additional flights per week to Jeddah. The new flights will commence from 14 December 2015.
The increased frequency will now offer…
Assila Investments ink contract with Shangri-La
Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited and Assila Investments recently signed a contract for management and operation of a 236-room hotel and serviced residences development…
Saudi Arabia offers biggest fleet of business aircraft in Mideast
Recent research from Gama Aviation PLC revealed that there are now 792 business aircraft in the Middle East, and between 2010 and 2014, 176 of these were delivered to the region. The…
Ascott Sari Jeddah welcomes its first guests
Ascott Sari Jeddah, which is managed by Ascott Limited (Ascott) recently opened a new property in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s area general manager for GCC…
AccorHotels to launch over 2,000 new hotel rooms in Makkah
AccorHotels recently announced signing of three management agreements with Al Rajhi Investment Group for a trio-cluster of hotel properties in Al Naseem, Makkah.
The Al Naseem project…
Shaza Hotels expands its presence in Saudi Arabia
The 251-key Shaza Hotel in Makkah is due to open within the next 12 months, while the 205-key hotel in the Kingdom is currently under development.
The latter property is scheduled to…
Millennium & Copthorne boosts KSA pipeline
Millennium & Copthorne Middle East and Africa continues its major expansion in Saudi Arabia by announcing the signing of two new hotels in Makkah with Al Rajhi Investments (part of…
Carlson Rezidor announces Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Al Naseem
Carlson Rezidor has strengthened its presence in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by announcing the Park Inn by Radisson Makkah Al Naseem.
The midscale hotel will be the group’s first property…
Al Faisaliah hotel to undergo refurbishment
The Al Faisaliah Hotel announced commencement of a renovation programme that begins a new chapter in its 15-year heritage.
“Celebrating the 15th anniversary, we have embarked on a…
flynas renews Amadeus partnership
Amadeus recently announced a renewed long-term full content agreement (FCA) with flynas.
According to the agreement, Amadeus subscribers will continue to access full range of flynas…
Saudi Arabia gets a new Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn has announced the opening of the Hilton Garden Inn Tabuk.
This will add to the brand’s growing portfolio of nearly 640 hotels worldwide. Hilton Garden Inn Tabuk is…
Scoot to launch first flights to Middle East
Scoot will embark on its first flights to the Middle East next year, when it takes over the Singapore-Jeddah route from Singapore Airlines.
Effective 1 May 2016, the low-cost carrier…
Etihad Airways promotes sporting initiative in KSA
Etihad Airways and Al Ittihad Football Club recently inked an agreement in Jeddah, marking the start of the new partnership.
The three year agreement named the airline as the official…
Rotana on-track to add 1500 rooms In KSA by 2017
Recent reports released have forecasted an increase in hotel rooms from current 242,000 to 381,000 by year of 2020 in Saudi Arabia.
Rotana already operates a portfolio of more than…
HMH signs up with Alfursan
HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings recently joined Alfursan.
Laurent A Voivenel, CEO of HMH, said: “The partnership with Alfursan, the loyalty program of Saudia Airlines will see…
Hotel performance dips in MEA: STR Global
The recent hotel performance report for the Middle East and Africa region reported negative results in three key performance metrics for August 2015. The report was compiled by STR…
Saudi Arabia gets its first Ascott Serviced Residences
CapitaLand and The Ascott Limited (Ascott) recently opened its first serviced residence in Saudi Arabia.
Vincent Miccolis, Ascott’s area general manager for the GCC region, said: “The…
FRHI Hotels gear up for the Hajj
FRHI Hotels & Resorts is fast gearing up to cater for increased number of independent Gulf travellers in Makkah, as the holy city prepares for a surge of visitors during Hajj.…
Millennium & Copthorne strengthens its KSA presence
In a recent development, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Middle East and Africa has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia.
This is with the signing of four hotels in Madinah.…
Qatar Airways commences flights to Abha
Qatar Airways recently launched new services to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with four flights a week to Abha.
The inaugural flight landed at Abha International Airport and was…
Qatar Airways boosts its KSA presence
Qatar Airways recently launched its eighth destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with four flights a week to Abha.
Qatar Airways flight QR1212 landed at Abha international…
Travelport road show attracts key Saudi agents
In a recent development, Travelport concluded a technology roadshow tour across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, Riyadh and Damman.
The series of interactive workshops showcased…
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts debuts in Riyadh
In a bid to strengthen its presence in KSA, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts have announced the opening of Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh.
This also marks the debut of the Mövenpick Hotels…
Fairmont’s Makkah Clock Royal Tower deploys Aruba
The Fairmont Group of Hotels & Resorts recently deployed Aruba Networks’ wireless infrastructure at its Makkah Clock Royal Tower hotel.
The new Wi-Fi solution offers seamless…
Madinah airport gears up for pilgrim rush
The Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah is all geared up to cater for an increased number of pilgrims, as per a report in the Saudi Gazette.
The first batch…
Air India to offer Hajj flights from seven cities
Air India has announced that it will operate special Hajj pilgrimage flights from seven Indian airports.
The national carrier will offer direct services to the Saudi Arabian city of…
Tabuk, Jouf airports witness growth
Recent statistics from domestic airports in Saudi Arabia have reported significant growth in number of flights, as reported by The Saudi Gazette.
The airports catered to a total of…
Millennium & Copthorne partners with Saudia
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels recently announced that signing of its frequent flyer global agreement with Saudia and Alfursan.
The partnership will allow Alfursan members to start…
Private terminal for KFIA
In a recent announcement, King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam inked a contract on to establish and run a private aviation terminal with XP Jet America.
The contract was…
Jazeera Airways restarts services to Assiut
Jazeera Airways recently announced its intent to restart flights between Kuwait and Assiut in Egypt.
The service will recommence from 10 September with four weekly flights. The…
Carlson Rezidor opens Radisson Blu Plaza Jeddah
Carlson Rezidor recently announced the opening of its newest property in Saudi Arabia - the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Jeddah.
Mark Willis, area vice president Middle East and…
Umrah revenue touch SAR12 billion
The booming religious tourism industry in Saudi Arabia is quantified with number of pilgrims coming for Umrah.
This has been increasing annually, economists are estimating the Umrah…
‘Jeddah Festival 36’ eyes global tourism
In an effort to boost its tourism potential, the Jeddah Gov Prince recently launched the 'Jeddah Festival 36', as reported by Arab News.
The 30-day event has been launched to compete…
Ascott properties in KSA open for business
The Ascott recently announced that Ascott Sari, Ascott Tahlia and Citadines Al Salamah all opened for booking.
Vincent Miccolis, area general manager Ascott Limited, GCC, said: “Our…
Madinah airport’s expansion on track
Saudi Arabia is working aggressively to boost it tourism and aviation industries.
Keeping up with the growing need, KSA has just opened the first phase of its airport expansion…
Tabuk receives first RJ flight
The city of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia recently welcomed Royal Jordanian’s first regular service from Amman.
The city will be served with two weekly flights which may increase to more in…
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts strengthens its Jeddah presence
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in an effort to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia has announced its expansion plans.
The Group announced its fourth property in Jeddah.
The…
Air Arabia connects Tabuk
In a bid to expand its presence in Saudi Arabia, Air Arabia recently announced the launch of regular services to Tabuk.
This new connection would be the airline’s 13th destination in…
KSA welcomes its first heritage hotel
Dur Hospitality and Saudi Hospitality Heritage Company recently inked a mutual cooperation agreement wherein the former will provide the latter with technical and supporting services.…
Saudia gets largest aircraft financing
International Airfinance Corporation (IAFC) has appointed Quantum Investment Bank Ltd (Quantum) and Palma Capital Limited (Palma) as exclusive arrangers for Saudi Arabian Airlines'…
New Madinah airport gears up for business
The new Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah expects more than a million travelers from local and international destinations, as reported by Arab News.…
Netherlands joins VFS Global in Saudi Arabia
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Saudi Arabia, along with VFS Global launched their visa application service.
The new service at the Schengen Visa Application Centre is…
AccorHotels Middle East expands in Riyadh
AccorHotels Middle East recently announced the opening of Suite Novotel Riyadh Dyar.
This is the fifth operational hotel in Riyadh and 15th to open in Saudi Arabia.
The Group has…
Qatar Executive prepares for Umrah
With the commencement of the Holy Month, Qatar Executive is well prepared for one of its busiest seasons of the year to Saudi Arabia.
The company offers religious travelers a modern…
Millennium & Copthorne expands its KSA presence
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, Middle East and Africa (MEA) recently announced its intent to sign on four hotels in Saudi Arabia with Taiba Holding Company (Taiba).
With up to 20…
World’s largest Holiday Inn to open in Makkah
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Al Majd Al Arabiah Company for what will be the world’s largest Holiday Inn hotel.
Holiday Inn Makkah…
QTA launches tourism roadshow in KSA
Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) is taking a delegation of representatives from Qatar Airways and eleven hotels on a three-city roadshow throughout Saudi Arabia.
The roadshow, which begins…
First Shangri-La to rise in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's first Shangri-La hotel will open in 2018, following the signing of an agreement for a new development in Jeddah.
Hong Kong's Shangri-La International Hotel Management…
New Hyatt hotels for KSA
Hyatt Hotels has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into an agreement for a Hyatt Place hotel and a Hyatt House hotel in Jeddah, KSA.
The hotels will be within one mile of each…
KSA to boast world’s biggest hotel
Saudi Arabia is to boast the world’s largest hotel when Abraj Kudai in Makkah is completed.
The project has a total built area of 1.4m m2 and will have 10,000 rooms in 12 separate…
SCTA notes huge job opportunity
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has the ability to create a huge number of jobs for Saudis, according to its president Prince Sultan bin Salman.
Arab News…
IHG, Dur Hospitality launch first hotel under master development agreement
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently announced the signing of a franchise agreement for the first Holiday Inn in Tabuk with Dur Hospitality Company.
The 83-room Holiday Inn…
Dusit boosts its momentum in Saudi Arabia
A joint venture (JV) hotel management agreement was recently inked with local partners Dyar Hotels and Resorts in Saudi Arabia.
With this agreement, Dusit International confirmed…
HMH looks to triple its inventory in UAE by 2020
HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings recently announced its intent to triple its inventory of rooms in UAE by 2020.
The group's CEO, Laurent A Voivenel said: “We are in the process…
Hyatt expands its GCC presence
Hyatt Hotels has rolled out a regional expansion strategy with new hotels across several of its brands.
At least nine new Hyatt-branded hotels are expected to open across the GCC by…
Mövenpick signs up second property in Riyadh
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently announced its decision to open its second property in Riyadh. The decision was post signing an agreement to manage a property in the King Abdullah…
KSA Hotel Show 2015 to witness new technologies
A recent report by Jones Lang LaSalle stated that Saudi Arabia leads the Middle East in terms of number of Internet and Social Media users.
This report was unveiled and discussed at…
Flynas takes off to Cairo
Flynas recently announced its intent to commence services from Riyadh to Egypt effective 29 April 2015.
The inaugural flight will take off from Riyadh's King Khalid International…
Saudi Tourism’s profits up 3% to SAR389 m
A recent financial report stated that net profits of listed tourism and hospitality firms rose by three percent to hit SAR389.2 million in Q1 of 2015 compared to SAR378.5 m in the same…
Mövenpick Hotels charts out Gulf boom with 2020 expansion plan
In an effort to strengthen its regional presence, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently announced its intent to ramp up its regional footprint by more than 10 hotels by 2020.
The…
Qatar Airways’ new Saudi unit welcomes first four aircraft
Qatar Airways' new Saudi Arabian subsidiary, Al Maha Airways, has welcomed its first four aircraft.
The Airbus A320 aircraft were delivered in a ceremony at the Airbus factory in…
Riyadh gets a new Action property
Action Hotels recently announced the addition of a three-star hotel in Riyadh.
The 130-room property will be located in the Olaya district. The hotel will be developed by conversion…
Riyadh, Jeddah to boast 16,000 new hotel rooms by 2018
The year 2018 will work positively for the two cities of Riyadh and Jeddah.
A new report published by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) reported a forecast to see an increase of 16,000 new…
Next Gen Muslim prayer calculator launched
HalalTrip has launched the multi-functional next generation prayer calculator which has been integrated with the latest technologies.
The mobile app gives Muslim travellers a simple…
Gulf Air shifts Madinah operations to new airport
Gulf Air has announced its intent to transfer its operations to the new Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Al Madinah Al Munawarah.
This coincides with the start…
Coral Al Khobar looks at business growth
A series of business road shows has resulted in positive optimism for the Coral Al Khobar Hotel.
The property expects that the hotel’s overall occupancy will rise significantly…
Qatar Airways to boost Middle East and European frequencies
The Middle East and Europe routes for Qatar Airways will witness a boost.
The airline will increase the frequency of weekly flights to 10 of its destinations throughout the Middle…
‘Visit Philippines Year’ and ‘Kids Go Free’ campaign promoted by PDOT
The on-going Riyadh Travel Fair will witness the Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT) strengthen its initiative to proactively attract family travellers.
Verna Buensuceso,…
Riyadh Travel Fair opens for business
The much-talked about annual Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) was recently inaugurated by engineer Kaled M Al Otaibi, secretary general of the council of Saudi Chambers.
The event this year…
New Madinah airport’s operations under test
Test runs are being conducted at the new Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah.
A Saudi Arabian Airlines domestic flight coming from Riyadh landed at 11 am…
VFS Tasheel partner with Glosante
In an effort to expand its customer experiences, Glosante has recently partnered with VFS Tasheel to offer free travel health checkups to travelers to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The…
Wego partners with Almosafer in KSA
Wego recently announced its partnership with Almosafer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This initiative makes the company the first local OTA partner for Wego. Ross Veitch, chief…
Online travel sales boom in KSA
Recent reports by Euromonitor International state that online travel sales to residents in Saudi Arabia showed a 40% growth in 2014 to reach SAR6.5 billion in 2015.
This figure is set…
Cristal Hotels showcase regional growth
The Middle East market is proving to be a lucrative proposition for Cristal Hotels. The Group has announced its three hotel openings in Saudi Arabia next year.
President and CEO of…
Saudi Arabia deemed a developing destination outside religious tourism
Hotel investment opportunities were being explored by AHIC speakers at the Riyadh Regional Briefing.
The other areas of focus were expanding the hoteliers’ network across the region.…
VFS Global to handle Portugal visas in KSA
The Embassy of Portugal in Riyadh has outsourced its visa application process to VFS Global in Riyadh.
While VFS Global will accept visa applications, the Embassy will continue to…
Flynas takes on SITA technology
Flynas recently partnered with SITA to provide a range of passenger check-in services.
An agreement was inked for a five-year, multi-million dollar project that includes end-to-end…
Saudi Arabia visas on the rise
Recent statistics from VFS Tasheel International reported that the organisation processed 162,018 visa applications in 2014 for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
VFS Tasheel further added…
Flynas to connect daily to Cairo
Flynas recently announced its intent to begin daily operation from Riyadh to Cairo from 29 April 2015.
The daily flights will be serviced by an A320 aircraft with 164 seats across…
KSA’s private jet market on growth mode
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will soon have close to 480 private aircraft within the next five years compared to the current 240, as reported by Al-Eqtisadiyah.
The Middle East and…
Ascott’s service apartments on the rise
Increasing demand for international branded serviced apartments has resulted in the growth of this sector in the GCC.
“The region’s demand for serviced apartments is in line with…
Saudi tourism focuses on US$45.3 bn growth potential
Tourism projects currently underway in Saudi Arabia’s are valued at US$11.6 billion.
These projects will look to build on domestic and religious tourism totalling an estimated US$…
Hilton Worldwide expands its Middle East presence
Hilton Worldwide announced its intent to open three new Hilton Garden Inn hotels for Dubai and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
This is in addition to its mid-market brand’s growing…
RTF 2015 grows in numbers
The annual Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2015 will be Saudi Arabia’s biggest travel and tourism exhibition to date.
The event has witnessed an increase of 20% in number of exhibitors…
Carlson Rezidor expands in Saudi Arabia
Carlson Rezidor recently announced opening of two hotels in Saudi Arabia.
This will increase its presence in the Kingdom to 25 hotels and more than 4900 rooms in operation and under…
Returns from Haj, Umrah to hit SAR48 bn by 2020
Participants in the Madinah Forum for Labour Market and Employment expect business generated by Hajj and Umrah to reach SAR6.22 billion.
This expectation is following completion of…
JTTX kicks off in KSA
The three-day Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (JTTX) recently kicked off in Saudi Arabia.
The event is seen to boost the city's economy.
The exhibition was…
New Saudi company for heritage hospitality formed
A contract to set up the Saudi Company for Heritage Hospitality, which was recently announced by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has been signed, as reported by…
Carlson Rezidor announces Gulf expansion
Carlson Rezidor has announced an expansion of its portfolio in the Middle East.
The group announced the launch of mid-market Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City. This is a 147-room…
FRHI hotels in Makkah focus on Saudiazation
In an effort to nurture local talent, the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Raffles Makkah Palace and Swissôtel Makkah - all part of the FRHI Hotels & Resorts portfolio - have launched their…
Duty-free shopping facility at KFIA
King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) recently unveiled its World Duty Free (WDF).
The outlet was inaugurated by Yusef Al-Dahri, director of King Fahd International Airport (KFIA),…
New tourism law approved in KSA
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) recently received the Cabinet's approval for a new tourism regulation, as reported by Arab News.
The regulation aims to…
flydubai connects Nejran
flydubai recently launched its inaugural flight to Nejran marking the start of a direct link from the region.
The inaugural flight was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute.…
Gulf Air expands in KSA
Gulf Air is fast preparing for its launch of direct operations to Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport (Gassim) and Ta’if Regional Airport (Taif).
The new services recently…
Saudi tourists highest spenders globally
Tourists from Saudi Arabia have been deemed the highest spender globally.
This is further authenticated as at least 4.5 million Saudi tourists spend over SAR80 billion every year when…
flynas boosts Saudiazation
In an effort to highlight the importance of Saudiazation within the country, flynas is playing a crucial role in training and development of Saudi youth.
This training is offered to…
Low-cost Hajj programmes to be expanded
Saudi Arabia has announced plans to expand its low-cost Hajj programmes.
This new development was announced by minister of Hajj, Bandar Hajjar. He further mentioned that officials are…
Marriott International opens two new Residences
Addressing the growing importance of the extended stay segment, Marriott International announced the opening of its two new Residence Inn properties in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.…
Gulf Air expands its Saudi network
The growing potential of Saudi Arabia has attracted Gulf Air to announce two new routes.
The airline will soon connect Gassim and Taif, taking total number of Saudi Arabian cities to…
KSA tourism visa could be a possibility
In an effort to boost its tourism industry, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considering issuing tourism visas.
Recent reports stated that there are high expectations for a big boost in…
Jet Asia adds scheduled services to Jakarta and Jeddah
Thailand's Jet Asia Airways has ramped up its scheduled flight operations with the launch of new services to Jakarta and Jeddah.
The Bangkok-based airline, which has traditionally…
SCTA, Saudia look to boost domestic tourism
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to boost its domestic tourism.
In light of this void, Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA)…
DUR expands its hospitality portfolio
In an effort to expand its Holiday Inn brand, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently inked a master development agreement (MDA) with Dur Hospitality Company. The agreement was for…
Marriott expands in KSA with DUR Hospitality
DUR Hospitality Company recently inked an agreement with Marriott International Inc to operate an 80-unit Marriott Hotel and a 140-unit Marriott Executive Apartments, which both are…
Bombardier’s new ASF in Saudi Arabia
Bombardier Business Aircraft has announced Arabasco as an Authorized Service Facility (ASF) for the Challenger 605 aircraft customers based in or flying to Saudi Arabia.
Under the ASF…
Al Tayyar Travel Group, Amadeus enter partnership
Al Tayyar Travel Group recently inked an agreement with Amadeus to enhance their operational efficiencies with specially designed distribution services to the group’s customers…
Saudi-US alliance to invest US$1.3bn in Moroccan projects
A private sector-led Saudi-US alliance has agreed to allocate US$1.3 billion (SAR4.88 bn) to finance investment projects in tourism, recreation, and health fitness sectors across…
SCTA inks agreement to develop tourist sites
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) recently inked an agreement with Saudi Credit and Saving Bank (SCSB) to finance tourism and heritage sites across the Kingdom. The…
Cristal Group announces regional expansion
Cristal hotel group has announced its intent to build three new hotels in Erbil and will open a hotel in Saudi Arabia next year. This is part of an ongoing expansion programme in the…
Egypt receives 64.9% more Saudi tourists
The renewed strategy adopted by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Egyptian Tourism Authority is paying dividends. The result of which is certainly a significant rise in number of…
Saudi looks to boost tourism ties with Egypt
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has aggressive plans to boost tourism ties with the Arab world, particularly Egypt. This intent was expressed at the 17th conference of Arab Tourism Ministers…
Swiss-Belhotel International adds two more properties in Saudi Arabia
Swiss-Belhotel International will expand its presence in Saudi Arabia. The Group’s chairman and president, Gavin M Faull recently inked agreement with Al Jumaiah Group of Saudi Arabia to…
Best Western expands its Saudi portfolio
Saudi Arabia will see development of a new Best Western property. The hotel group has announced a new property in the port city of Jizan - Best Western Jazan Hotel.
“We are looking…
VFS TasHeel International to process Saudi visas Nigeria
Nigeria now has a new Saudi visa processing centre. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia has recently mandated VFS TasHeel International the responsibility to manage and…
Yanbu gets new tourism projects
The city of Yanbu recently welcomed the announcement of 27 major investment projects. These announcements were made during an investment forum by municipal and rural affairs minister…
Smartphone app from flynas
In a bid to get more tech-savvy, flynas launched the initial version of its application for IOS and Android smart devices. The new application will enable passengers to book tickets and…
HMH expands its KSA presence
In an effort to expand its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings has recently entered into a management agreement with Mobarak Hotels Group for…
Anjum Hotel Makkah sets sight on the Turkish market
In an effort to cash in on the growing religious tourism segment, the Anjum Hotel Makkah recently showcased its pilgrim services in Istanbul. The Anjum project looks to add an additional…
JW Marriott Marquis records 38% rise in Saudi visitors
The JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai has been witnessing a surge in tourist from Saudi Arabia. Recent statistics reveal that the hotel continues to witness high demand from Saudi Arabia.…
WTM14: Rotana plans 100 hotels by 2020
Rotana has announced plans to reach 100 hotels by 2020 as part of an aggressive development strategy.
A further 12 are due to open in the rest of 2014 and throughout 2015 alone,…
Flynas suspends long haul services
Flynas has suspended long haul services following lower than expected profits.
The Saudi-based budget carrier issued a statement Tuesday saying: "flynas has suspended all long-haul…
Rotana targets budget hotel sector in Saudi
Rotana has announced plans to expand its economy hotel portfolio into Saudi Arabia. Four Centro Hotels by Rotana branded properties will be developed in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar and Dammam.…
Air Arabia expands presence in Saudi Arabia
Air Arabia has expanded its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the launch of non-stop service to Al Jouf.
This will be the airline’s 11th destination in the Kingdom. The…
Carlson Rezidor, Al Hokair Group inks strategic agreement for KSA
Carlson Rezidor and and Al Hokair Group have signed a long-term country development agreement across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Carlson Rezidor will operate around 30 new and…
Dubai gets its second Ascott Serviced Residence
The Ascott Limited recently signed an agreement to manage a second 117-unit serviced residence in Dubai. The new property - Ascott Culture Village Dubai - is scheduled to open is 2017…
Nobu Hospitality keen to expand in UAE
Nobu Hospitality is still looking to open hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi even though it has made little progress over the last four years, as reported by Gulf News.
In 2010, the brand…
Rotana to expand in KSA
Rotana Hotels have announced their intent to expand and open six new hotels in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar and Dammam. The new hotels are a key part of Rotana's expansion and development…
Accor expands in Jeddah
Accor Hotel Services Middle East is set to open three more hotels in Jeddah by the end of 2018, under the Novotel, Ibis and Adagio brands. The operator has signed management agreements…
Shoura approves tourism strategy
The Shoura Council recently passed a bill regarding general strategy for national tourism development at its 58th session in Riyadh. The bill is a modified version of the tourism…
Saudi Arabia tops Mideast travel market
A new study recently revealed that with 28 million residents, Saudi Arabia is the most populous and will constitute nearly 60% of the GCC population in 2030, while UAE, Oman, and Kuwait…
Gulf ministers discuss ways to boost tourism
Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) president Prince Sultan bin Salman will lead the Kingdom's delegation to Kuwait. This is the first constituent meeting of Gulf…
NasJet looks to expand presence
NasJet is gearing up to showcase its product line at the forthcoming World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
Saad Al Azwar, CEO of NasJet, said: “The number of private jet movements…
Accor expands KSA presence
In a strategic move to expand its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Accor HotelServices Middle East recently inked management agreements with Alesayi Group.
The agreement was…
Cebu Pacific spreads wings to Saudi Arabia
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has taken another step forward in its long-haul expansion plans, with the launch of its first ever flights to Saudi Arabia.
The Philippine low-cost carrier…
flynas introduces smart phone app
flynas inaugurated the trial version of its first app allowing users to access air travel services via iPhone and Android smartphones.
Wael bin Mohammed Al-Sarhan, director of…
Domestic tourism needs investments
Domestic tourism is in need of more investments from the private sector especially with several Saudi cities having succeeded in attracting local tourists, Abdullah Salem, the tourism…
Makkah boasts the largest hotel in Middle East
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), and Makkah Gov Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, jointly opened the 1,743-room Anjum Hotel-Makkah.…
SCTA, Haia join forces to boost local tourism
In a unique move, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) joined forces with the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) to promote domestic…
Saudi introduces Haj permit programme
The Saudi government has launched a new awareness campaign to educate Saudis and expatriate workers on the importance of obtaining Haj permits ahead of the annual pilgrimage.
The Right…
Mandarin Oriental grows Middle East pipeline
Mandarin Oriental is set to expand its presence in the Middle East with its first property in Dubai.
Located on Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeriah 3, Mandarin Oriental Dubai is scheduled…
Dubai top holiday destination for Saudis
Dubai tops the list of favourite holiday destinations for Saudis to spend short vacations like Eid holidays, while Egypt is seeing signs of recovery, according to tourism experts.…
Cebu Pacific expands in Middle East
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) has unveiled plans to expand further in the Middle East, with the launch of services to Saudi Arabia.
On 4 October 2014, the Philippine low-cost carrier will…
VEGA expands its online presence
VEGA – the travel concierge services company in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – has announced an aggressive expansion plan.
In a recent development, Khalid Al Shamlan, managing partner,…
Arrival of foreign pilgrims gains momentum
The arrival of foreign Haj pilgrims is gaining momentum in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and flow is expected to increase. The civil aviation authorities have notified the Haj…
flynas adds flights to Tabuk, Ha’il, Al-Qassim
flynas announced launch of new domestic destinations from King Khaled International Airport. The airline effective 23 September will commence operations with one flight daily to Prince…
Abu Dhabi targets the Saudi market
Abu Dhabi recently welcomed a delegation of tour operators from Saudi Arabia in an awareness campaign highlighting the destination’s attractions. Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture…
flynas to connect Jeddah, Sharjah
In response to strong demand, flynas has re-launched operations between two cities with four flights a week starting 16 September 2014.
“We want to be on everyone's radar when it…
Hajj to generate SAR32bn revenues
Hajj revenues this year are projected to reach almost SAR32 billion, a three-percent increase from the SAR31 bn spent in 2013, according to a recent study conducted by Makkah Chamber of…
Jazeera Airways reports profits in operational performance
Jazeera Airways recently released its July 2014 operational performance report, which shows an increase in flown passengers on routes serving Istanbul, Cairo, Jeddah, Sharm El Sheikh and…
Qatar Airways boosts capacity to Madinah
In a bid to strengthen its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar Airways will be launching an additional daily flight to Madinah from 26 October 2014. The additional flight will…
Investors delve into potential of old Jeddah
Investors are eying Jeddah's downtown historical area due to the high turnout of visitors during Ramadan and summer season. Several businessmen have reportedly been considering opening…
Riyadh gets its first ‘Studio M’ hotel
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Middle East and Africa (MEA) recently unveiled plans to launch its Studio M brand in Riyadh. This is being done in partnership with Saudi-owner Waseel…
Cebu Pacific set to fly to Dammam and Riyadh
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) will soon launch flights to Dammam and Riyadh, as per a report from Center for Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
The plan is part of the carrier's further expansion of…
Saudi to target the UK market at WTM
In a first of its kind initiative, Saudi Arabia will participate at the forthcoming World Travel Market 2014. This participation comes at the time when the Saudi government unveils plans…
Cebu Pacific expands long-haul network
Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) will soon launch flights to the Saudi Arabian cities of Dammam and Riyadh, as the carrier expands its long-haul network from one to six destinations over the next six…
Prince Al Waleed visits Azerbaijan
HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) visited the capital city Baku in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
His Royal Highness visited…
Jeddah airport expansion work on target
More than 69% of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) expansion project has been completed, announced Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, president of the General Authority of Civil…
Makkah Clock Tower to open for tourists
The Makkah Clock Tower is to open for tourists after Haj 2014, according to officials. Tourists will have to buy tickets to visit the tower top.
The Makkah Clock project was…
MRMWR to develop sites around Dhofar
To further boost tourism in Dhofar, the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR) is planning to develop sites around perennial springs and waterfalls in the…
Carlson Rezidor expands in Saudi Arabia
Carlson Rezidor is aggressively expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia. The Company announced the signing of five new projects in Saudi Arabia. This increases its presence in the Kingdom…
Kuwait endorses 50 Hajj operators
Kuwaiti authorities have accredited 50 Hajj operators this year who have all met official requirements.
“We urge all those who plan to perform pilgrimage this year to register with…
KSA domestic tourism spends touch SAR28 bn in 2013
Domestic tourist spending reached more than SAR28 billion last year, according to MAS, the statistical arm of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
More than 23,000…
KSA airports to handle 100m travellers by 2020
The Kingdom's 27 airports will accommodate 100 million travellers by the year 2020, revealed a report issued by the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA).
Prince Fahd bin…
Elaf Group rolls out summer packages
The Elaf Group of Companies has rolled out special travel packages and discounts to various Arabic-speaking and foreign countries during summer 2014.
The destination covered include…
flynas announces more Eid flights
flynas recently announced operating additional flights to several domestic and international destinations during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Wael Al-Sarhan, director of marketing and…
Al Faisaliah takes on Travelport
Travelport along with Stargate Cyber Active recently announced a new agreement with Al Faisaliah Travel and Tourism Company in Saudi Arabia. As per the agreement, Al Faisaliah Travel and…
Egypt witnesses 10.8% increase in Kuwaiti tourists
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) recently announced tourism statistics for May 2014. As per statistics, there is a significant increase in number of…
Diriyah expected to ramp up tourism revenues
Diriyah in Saudi Arabia has the potential to become a key tourist destination following the completion of renovation work on its historic mud houses and other buildings, according to…
UNESCO recognition boosts Jeddah’s historical district
The recognition of the Historic Jeddah district as a world heritage site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), would boost tourism in the area,…
Limited 15-day Umrah visa remains
The government has rejected calls from local companies and agents abroad to increase the 15-day limit on Umrah visas during Ramadan, as reported in Arab News.
In addition, the…
Ascott strengthens presence in Saudi Arabia
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is strengthening its presence in the Saudi Arabia with secured agreements to manage two more serviced residences. These residences are for the Abdul Samad Al…
flynas launches Ramadan specials
The holy month of Ramadan will see flynas launch special fares for flights from Dubai to Riyadh. This is catering to growing demand during the summer season. The flynas Ramadan special…
SCTA witness an uptrend in domestic tourism
The Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA) has witnessed an upward trend in domestic tourism.
“One reason for this growth is the SCTA's support for local tourism by…
Accor, Munshaat ink management agreement
Accor HotelServices Middle East and Munshaat for Projects & Contracting Co recently signed a management agreement for a new Pullman hotel in Madinah. The new property will be named…
Khalejiat to attract 9,000 visitors
The second Khalejiat 2014 exhibition is expected to attract more than 9,000 visitors from around the Kingdom and other Gulf countries.
The exhibition, which is held under the…
Flynas connects London Gatwick
Flynas announced operations of two direct flights a week between Riyadh and London.
This new service will commence from 27 July 2014. The new twice-weekly service is available every…
Expanded Grand Mosque ready for Ramadan
The second phase of massive on-going expansion project inside Makkah's Grand Mosque is almost complete, with the first floor area for circumambulation around the House of God, expected…
Saudia suspends flights to Peshawar
Saudi Arabian Airlines joined other major Gulf airlines in suspending flights to Peshawar. This follows an attack by gunmen on a Pakistan International Airlines flight at Bacha Khan…
Jeddah fest prepares to welcome three million visitors
The ongoing 35th ‘Jeddah Ghair’ festival is expected to attract more than three million visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom. The event is slated to generate SAR three billion by…
KSA to witness 5.3m perform Umrah
The number of Muslims performing the Umrah pilgrimage is expected to increase with the advent of Ramadan. Latest statistics reveal that around 5.3 million pilgrims have entered the…
Novotel Riyadh Olaya opens in KSA
Accor HotelServices Middle East recently signed a management agreement with United Youth Company (UYC) to develop the new Novotel. The hotel is located on Olaya Street in the northern…
UNESCO World Heritage List expands with 20 entries
Twenty new cultural and natural sites have been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List for this year.
The list includes several sites in Europe, Asia, Middle East and South America…
Al Tayyar Travel partners with Jet Asia in KSA
Al Tayyar Travel Group recently appointed Jet Asia Airways as a general sales agent (GSA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The agreement was signed by Saud Bin Muhammad Saleh Al-Arifi,…
100,000 expected at Jeddah Ramadan festival
A new festival, to be launched during Ramadan and Eid, is expected to attract 100,000 local and foreign visitors in Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Al-Dawi, head of the festival's executive…
Egypt back in favor for Saudi tourists
Egypt, which was once the most favored tourist destination for Saudis, is now back in the sights of Saudi tourists after elections. Tourism in Egypt was recently hit hard after the…
flynas boosts Jeddah flights for Ramadan
flynas recently announces addition of 29,520 seats on board its 540 flights this coming Ramadan with an aim to accommodate increasing traffic on its flights to Jeddah. The airline will…
SCTA to monitor tourism services
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has set up round the clock operation rooms, and constituted working teams to monitor functioning of the tourism and hospitality…
Flynas adds Cairo to network
Flynas announced the launch of its first flights to Cairo International Airport. This new flights is part of its expansion plans within Egypt.
The launch coincided with arrival of…
Accor partners with Al Ahlam Holding
Accor HotelServices Middle East recently signed a management agreement in Jeddah with Al Ahlam Holding. The agreement will witness the opening of a new ibis Madinah Road in Jeddah. The…
Radisson Blu opens in Dhahran
Carlson Rezidor recently opened Radisson Blu Hotel in Dhahran as part of its expansion across the Kingdom. The upper upscale hotel features 74 suites.
“Saudi Arabia is an important…
SCTA to develop geo-tourism
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) recently joined hands with Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to develop geo-tourism. This is being achieved by reviewing list of…
Women-dedicated immigration counters in Jeddah
Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed opened special counters for women's immigration at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah. As many as 74 Saudi women have been…
Domestic tourism fuels Saudi occupancies
Saudi tourism industry has witnessed lately a massive rise in number hotels being invested in, and occupied and similar growth in employment figures. There are around 3,700 accommodation…
Gulf Air restructures KSA flights for Ramadan
In light of the holy month of Ramadan, Gulf Air has modified its flight schedule to and from Madinah. This will be effective from 1-24 July 2014. The flight will specifically cater to…
Rosewood Corniche focuses on Hijaz
Gearing up for the holy month of Ramadan, Rosewood Corniche in Saudi Arabia will focus all its activities for Ramadan around Hijaz. The hotel is adopting a strong Hijazi theme as it…
Al Tayyar Travel Group acquires CTM
Al Tayyar Travel Group Holding recently announced signing of the acquisition agreement with British company Co-operative Travel Management (CTM). The deal authorizes Al Tayyar 100%…
Saudi tourism gets a shot in the arm
The Council of Ministers recently approved formation of three bodies under Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) to boost the Kingdom's travel and tourism sector.
The…
New biometric rule for Saudi visa seekers in UAE
Applicants for visas to Saudi Arabia, including Haj and Umrah pilgrims, who apply from UAE must now also have their fingerprints and picture taken in addition to regular requirements.…
New Jeddah airport to open in early 2015
The first phase of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport projected at SAR27 bn is aggressively on completion mode before end of the current year. The construction was visited by…
Al Tayyar expands KSA operations
Al Tayyar Travel Group is on an aggressive growth plan. The company recently opened two new offices in Saudi Arabia. The agency this week opened a new branch in Jeddah and also launched…
Pilgrims hotel at Haj terminal
An exclusive hotel will be opened for pilgrims who miss their flights at the Haj terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), as reported by Arab News.
“A hotel has been…
KSA gets more Accor brands
Accor HotelServices Middle East has signed management agreements with the Alesayi Group to operate two new Adagio Aparthotel properties in Saudi Arabia. The 200-unit Adagio Aparthotel…
Shurooq concludes its GCC showcase
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) recently concluded its roadshow in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. These road shows formed part of its strategy to not only strengthen…
Jeddah summer festival preps underway
Come June, Saudi Arabia will be gearing up for the Jeddah Summer Festival. The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced that the Festival will be launched on 5 June to coincide…
New Madinah airport to be ready by 2015
Madinah Gov Prince Faisal bin Salman reiterated importance of completing expansion works on Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport on time during his latest inspection…
Saudi Arabia removes travel advisory for Lebanon
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have brought hope to the Lebanese tourism industry after lifting a long-standing travel advisory against trips to the country.
Travel advisories warning of…
MERS cases spike through April and May
The number of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) cases is spiking, taking the global infection rate to 571 confirmed cases, including 171 deaths, since April 2012.
The World Health…
Hospitality boom forecast for six Gulf cities
The hospitality sectors in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, Muscat and Riyadh are all expected to strong growth through the coming years, driven by megaevents and an improving regional…
Jet Airways announces Kozhikode-Dammam
Jet Airways has announced direct flights between Kozhikode and Dammam in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA),
effective 10 June 2014.
The airline will operate a Boeing 737 flight…
Al Tayyar Travel Group looks to enhance Egypt tourism
In an effort to enhance tourism ties with Egypt, Al Tayyar Travel Group’s chairman and president, Dr Nasser Al Tayyar met with the Egyptian Minister of Tourism, Hisham Zaazou. The…
Hyatt expands presence in UAE, KSA
Hyatt Hotels have announced their intent to expand into the key regional markets of UAE and KSA ) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with the launch of Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga in May…
Online travel on an upward trend
The online travel industry is witnessing a surge and this growth is also being witnessed in mobile online travel trends. Riding on this growth, Arabian Travel Market will highlight key…
Boost for KSA, Egypt travel
In a bid to enhance tourism between the two countries of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Al Tayyar Travel Group inked a collaboration agreement with Al Hanouf Company. The agreement was signed…
Al Tayyar Travel, Travelport ink partnership
Travelport and Al Tayyar Travel Group have signed a new multi-year agreement thereby strengthening their partnership. This partnership will also see both companies significantly enhance…
Al Marwa Rayhaan looks at 20% growth
Al Marwa Rayhaan in Makkah announced its plans to attract 20% more visitors in 2014. Makkah hosted 1,980,249 pilgrims for the 2013 Hajj, with almost 1.4 million coming from outside KSA.…
Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 inaugurated
The Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 was officially opened under patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz, deputy governor of Riyadh.
The event is being held at…
Marriott expands Residence Inn footprint
Marriott International plans to expand its mid-tiered brand - Residence Inn, in the GCC countries, according to Diane R Mayer, the brand’s vice-president and global brand manager, as…
Flynas boosts flights to Luxor
In response to growing demand for international travel from Saudi Arabia, flynas is continuing its expansion program announcing two weekly flights between Riyadh and Luxor.
Most…
Authorities expand airport capacity in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is hatching plans to increase airport capacity across the country as international airlines expand to second tier cities and increase frequencies to and from the country.…
Cristal Hotels to triple portfolio in two years
Abu Dhabi-based Cristal Hotels & Resorts aims to triple its portfolio within two years, as it presses forward with aggressive expansion plans.
The hotelier expects to increase its…
Qatar Airways adds connections to Saudi Arabia
Qatar Airways is expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia, adding Al Hofuf to its growing list of connections via Doha.
Commencing 15 May, the carrier will operate four flights a week…
flynas Gatwick flights touch down
flynas kicked off its global flight routes programme with the inaugural flight to London.
flynas CEO Raja Azmi said: “The flynas global flight routes programme will cover new…
flynas connects Abha
As part of its strategic expansion plan, flynas will soon commence a daily flight between Jeddah and Abha. The new service is scheduled to take off from 15 April 2014.
Wael Al Sarhan,…
Bigger aircraft for BA’s Jeddah route
British Airways has deployed a Boeing 777-200 on its Jeddah route. The city will also benefit from an increased flight schedule with daily flights available to London.
The…
Jeddah hotels register positive performance
Hotels in Jeddah reported growth across all major performance indicators as an increase in average rates and non-room revenues boosted bottom line yields, according to HotStats.…
Global chains eye KSA hotel projects
Growing domestic tourism, influx of tourists from Arab countries and continued expansion of religious tourism have steered development of the hospitality sector in the Kingdom.
With…
STTIM 2014 attracts experts and investors
The tourism industry is one of the key pillars of economy of KSA. In line with this, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) will organize its 7th Saudi Travel and…
Tourism expo planned for Riyadh
A domestic tourism investment promotion expo will soon be unveiled at the Riyadh International Conferences and Exhibitions Center. The expo will be held on the sidelines of forum of…
Jeddah’s heritage buildings to be turned into hotels
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has signed a contract to launch a SAR250 million heritage hospitality company, as reported in Arab News.
The Saudi Company for…
Al Faisaliah Spa by ESPA opens
Al Faisaliah Spa by ESPA was officially opened and welcomed guests including several members of the royal family and other dignitaries.
The new spa is located in Riyadh, at Al…
Flynas acquires new aircraft
Flynas welcomed arrival of the first Airbus 330 aircraft to its fleet at King Khaled International Airport. The aircraft was received by key executives from the airline headed by Bander…
Omran introduces ‘Atana’
Omran recently introduced its 'Atana' brand, a first of its kind Omani hotel brand that blends local tradition with contemporary culture. Atana is a four star hotel and resort operator.…
Sofitel Al Khobar launches innovative meetings
Modern architecture, contemporary designs and technology all form part of Sofitel Al Khobar meeting facilities. The hotel offers seven meeting rooms, five board rooms and a ballroom, all…
Millennium Hotels targets 50 Middle East properties by 2017
Millennium and Copthorne Middle East and Africa (MEA) announced its intent to open 20 new hotels in Saudi Arabia, which is part of a wider plan to operate 50 properties throughout the…
TAMANI Marina Hotel expects boost in Saudi guests
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in the focus for TAMANI Marina Hotel with the short holiday breaks in the region. The hotel is gearing up to cater for huge numbers from the region.…
Millennium & Copthorne MEA on an expansion spree
The Millennium & Copthorne hotels across the Middle East and Africa are keen to enhance their presence. The Group has very strategic development plans. This is being taken forward…
Al Hokair Group to invest AED150m in UAE expansion
Saudi Arabia's Al Hokair Group will invest AED150 million over the next three years to expand its operations in UAE, an executive at the company was quoted in Gulf News.
Mishal A Al…
Hilton strengthens presence in Saudi Arabia
Hilton Worldwide recently announced the signing of a management agreement with investors Faisal Al-Ansari Contracting, to introduce a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Al Jubail.. The hotel is…
Riyadh Marriott reopens post refurbishment
Marriott International recently celebrated the re-launch of its property - Riyadh Marriott Hotel.
“I am delighted to celebrate this historic milestone with the re-launch of our Riyadh…
New UK to Jeddah routes announced
Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier flynas has announced new flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Jeddah.
The new routes will launch on 8 April and 2 May respectively, both…
Makkah hotel industry posts sustained growth
The city of Makkah Al Mukarramah has expressed confidence in continuing steady business growth, as reported by Saudi Gazette. In fact, the city has witnessed an influx of new hotels,…
Golden Sands witnesses increased GCC interest
Golden Sands Hotel Apartments have marked the GCC market as an important market for them. Having recently participated in the Jeddah Travel and Tourism Exhibition (JTTX), the hotel group…
No entry fee for Taif parks
Entrance to private parks and gardens is now free of charge following recent rephrasing of terms and conditions of investment contracts, as reported by Arab News. Taif Mayor Mohammed…
Grand Mosque expansion work on schedule
Work on the suspended ‘mataf’ (area for circumambulation around the Kaaba) is continuing vigorously after top floor of the area was completed last year in order to accommodate pilgrims…
Mega Maldives Airlines set for Saudi flights
The growing potential of the Gulf and Middle East market have led several carriers to introduce or reintroduce their services to the region. One of them is Mega Maldives Airlines, which…
Insurance must for visiting foreigners in KSA
Saudi Arabia recently announced a decision to implement mandatory health insurance which should include coverage of medical assistance and evacuation in emergencies for foreigners…
Hilton expands in Saudi Arabia
Hilton Worldwide will soon add Al Ahsa to its Saudi Arabia portfolio. This follows the signing of an agreement with Al Jazeera Group, owned by HE Sheikh Dr Jassim bin Nasser bin Jassim…
Saudi Arabia poised for steady tourism growth: AHIC experts
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will see a steady growth in its travel and tourism industry with almost SAR 33.5 billion to be invested in the sector until 2020. These key statistics were…
Yanbu to host SAR65 m ‘pilgrim hub’
Yanbu has been chosen by Saudi authorities to be developed as a major point for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, along with Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. Various infrastructure projects in Yanbu…
King Abdullah gardens project starts in Riyadh
Work on phase two of the massive King Abdullah International Gardens project has started in Riyadh, which includes plant and animal sections, and a water park, as reported by Arab News.…
Rosewood Corniche rolls out kids activities
Rosewood Corniche has launched the mini chefs corner targeting children between six and 12 years. The initiative will teach kids how to make their own pizza - from top chefs at the…
Alesayi Group, Accor in deal to build 10 hotels
Accor Middle East has forged a strategic alliance with Alesayi Group to develop 10 new hotel properties across the Kingdom by 2018, as reported by Saudi Gazette.
The first ibis in the…
New Planetarium planned for Jeddah
J/Brice Design International Inc has been commissioned by Saudi Arabia's Fakieh Group to design the interior of a new Planetarium at its Al Shallal Theme Park on the Jeddah Corniche.…
KSA tops as favorite ‘halal holiday’ destination
Saudi Arabia has been ranked the favourite destination for Muslim travelers, according to a recent survey. Malaysia tops the list, but Japan has also shown most improvement as it ramps…
Prince Alwaleed discuss investment issues with South Africa
HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) recently meet with HE Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, South African minister of tourism in Ryadh.…
Saudia celebrates 50 years of flying to Dubai
Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) recently celebrated its golden jubilee of its operation to Dubai. A ceremony was held at Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort to mark the occasion under…
Accor forges alliance with Alesayi Group
Accor Middle East has recently inked a strategic alliance with the Alesayi Group in Saudi Arabia. The partnership will see development of a minimum of 10 new hotel properties by 2018…
Saudi to inject US$30.9 bn in tourism over next decade
Tourism is being ranked a top priority for Saudi tourism officials. The Saudi government is investing heavily in its tourism sector, principally to provide employment opportunities for…
Stone laid for Sodos Heritage Town
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has said that heritage villages in the Kingdom should be viewed as important economic…
Britain witness surge in Gulf visitors
VisitBritain recently hosted its annual GCC travel trade mission in Saudi Arabia. This event was held for the first time and recent figures show that during the first three quarters of…
Flynas introduces Madinah-Khartoum flights
Flynas has added a third destination to its flights between Saudi Arabia and Sudan with the launch of three weekly flights from Madinah to Khartoum, which start from 2 April 2014, as…
Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 gains momentum
The forthcoming Riyadh Travel Fair 2014 will witness an 18% increase in exhibitors compared to 2013. This was confirmed by the organiser of the event.
The annual event now in its…
Saudi Arabia looks to ink tourism pact with Greece
Saudi Arabia and Greece will sign a major agreement here on Monday to boost cooperation in the tourism sector, as reported by Arab News. The pact will also look to generate growth in…
Staybridge Suites to open in Al Khobar
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a 20-year management agreement with Al Khorayef & Sons Co for a 189-key Staybridge Suites hotel in Al Khobar. This will be the first…
Saudia, Boeing in collaborative deal
Boeing and Saudi Arabian Airlines Holding Co (Saudia) signed a broad collaboration agreement allowing companies to pursue possible partnership opportunities in the areas of defense and…
JTTX sets tourism priorities
The fourth edition of Jeddah Travel and Tourism Exhibition (JTTX) was opened by Hani Abu Ras, mayor of Jeddah recently, as reported by Arab News. The event was held at Hilton hotel and…
flydubai lands in Hofuf
flydubai’s flight FZ897 has landed in Hofuf marking the start of the first direct link between the city and Dubai.
The inaugural flight had Hamad Obaidalla, flydubai’s chief…
Etihad commences daily flights to Al Medina
Etihad Airways has launched daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s religious and cultural centre, Al Medina.
The new service is the airline's fourth destination in the Kingdom…
Gulf airlines among the safest in 2013
Last year was among the safest on record for the aviation industry, with UAE carriers among the best performers on this front.
Safety and security was a focal point at the second…
Flynas lines up new routes to Asia and Europe
Saudi Arabia’s budget airline, flynas is preparing to add more destinations to its long haul network in the second quarter of 2014.
The carrier yesterday announced plans to launch…
Officials promise progress on air traffic congestion
A top Dubai aviation official expressed confidence that through close cooperation, the Gulf region would resolve air traffic congestion issues in the region by the end of the decade.…
Profits rise at Rosewood Corniche
Jeddah’s luxury hotel, the Rosewood Corniche, is celebrating a successful year following the announcement of key performance indicators.
The property’s in-room revenue increased by…
flynas boosts services to Aswan
Flynas is continuing its expansion plan with launch of two weekly flights from Jeddah to Aswan starting from 27 January 2014.
Aswan will be a new destination in flynas's expanding…
BA to boost Saudi frequency
British Airways plans to further increase its flight frequency in Saudi Arabia, the key market for the company, as reported in Saudi Gazette.
Paolo De Renzis, BA's regional commercial…
Garuda offers flights for Sulawesi pilgrims
Garuda Indonesia is planning to launch a new flight that would allow Muslim residents of Makassar, on the island of Sulawesi, to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah religious festival.…
Umrah propels Makkah hotel occupancy to 90%
Makkah's hotel occupancy has risen to more than 90% around the central area of the Grand Mosque. A total of 1.7 million people have come on Umrah since the season opened in December.…
Saudi tourism poised for growth
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expecting its tourism industry to achieve growth as a result of the active support of government. This is with regards to development of 34,800 new hotel…
flydubai adds Hofuf in KSA
flydubai is extending its reach into the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a new connection. The airline has recently announced the launch of flights to Hofuf. The new…
Saudi cabinet boosts tourism funding
The King Abdullah Project for Urban Heritage Development has got a green signal. This also includes more financial and administrative support for Saudi Commission for Tourism and…
flydubai, Qatar Airways set to connect Al-Ahsa
flydubai and Qatar Airways have been given the go ahead by Saudi authorities to operate flights from Al-Ahsa Airport in the Eastern Province.
"On the basis of an approval given by…
New KSA airline orders 26 aircraft worth US$2bn
Saudi Gulf Airlines has purchased 16 new CS300 jetliner aircraft with an option for an additional 10, worth US$1.99 billion (SR7.46 bn). Canada's Bombardier Aerospace announced the deal…
DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran opens for business
Hilton Worldwide and DoubleTree by Hilton announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran in Al Khobar, KSA. The 153-room conversion property, becomes the first DoubleTree by…
KSA gears up for tourist season
The coming month will witness tourism turn into fastest growing sectors in KSA. Riding on this growth stakeholders in the sector are making necessary efforts to have a successful season.…
Manchester-Jeddah route returns
Direct flights between Manchester and Jeddah will recommence in March, it has been announced.
Saudia Airlines will start to operate the service three times a week this spring and…
Riyadh witnesses an increase in luxury developments
As regional players are poised to take on more visitors ahead of the reviving economy, Riyadh is increasingly witnessing a steady increase in demand for luxury properties and…
Perkins+Will to design hotel in Riyadh
Perkins+Will has won the contract for Diplomatic Quarter hotel in Riyadh for Saudi Hotel and Resorts Company (SHARACO). The company will design the new five-star hotel in the Diplomatic…
Business class service introduced on flynas
In an effort to cater to growing demand, flynas has launched Business Class service on all its flights between UAE and KSA. The new service commenced in January 2014 and is keenly priced…
Saudi’s Taif airport project to raise funds through sukuk
Saudi Arabia is contemplating seeking funds for its new airport in the western town of Taif through sukuk issuance (Islamic bonds), said Ibrahim Al Assaf, finance minister of Saudi…
New Jeddah airport will be ready by year-end
The new King Abdulaziz International Airport will be ready by the end of this year, said Prince Fahd bin Abdullah, president of General Authority of Civil Aviation, as reported in Arab…
Winter tourism festival in Jeddah
Over a million Saudi and Gulf visitors are expected at the ‘Come On, Jeddah’ (Hayya Jeddah) festival. The event is scheduled to begin on 11 January 2014, as reported in Arab News. This…
flynas inaugurates new hub in Madinah
Flynas has launched its new hub at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, as reported by Saudi Gazette. The launch was attended by key officials from Madinah…
Philippines Tourism looks to boost Saudi tourists numbers
The Philippine Department of Tourism, in conjunction with Philippine Embassy in Riyadh and Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, have come together to launch a new revitalized…
Tourism college opens in Riyadh
Riyadh Government’s Prince Khaled bin Bandar recently inaugurated the Laureate College for Tourism and Hospitality in the Salahudeen district of the capital, as reported in Arab News. It…
Car rental benefits highlighted by Travelport, Hertz in Saudi Arabia
Travelport has recently tied up with Hertz International in Saudi Arabia. The partnership keeps travel agents updated on latest car rental trends and opportunities.
The recent two…
Umrah visa cut to reduce congestion
Saudi Arabia recently announced its decision to reduce number of foreign pilgrims arriving for Umrah during the peak Ramadan season, as reported in Arab News. This step was being…
Carlson Rezidor announces two properties in Saudi Arabia
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced two new hotels in Saudi Arabia - Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh Olaya and The Radisson Blu Resort Jizan. Both properties are joint projects between…
PAL expands Middle East network
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has expanded its Middle Eastern network with the launch of services to two cities in Saudi Arabia - Riyadh and Dammam.
The new Manila-Riyadh service…
IHG inks agreement for Staybridge Suites in Jeddah
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has signed a 15 year management agreement with Al Andalus Property for a Staybridge Suites hotel in Jeddah. The Staybridge Suites Al Andalus Mall is…
SCTA gears up for hosting STTIM-2014
The seventh edition of Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market (STTIM-2014) will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC). The event is scheduled…
SCTA project to protect Islamic sites
The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) has set up a special project to protect ancient Islamic sites particularly those linked to the Prophet Muhammad and rightly guided…
Air Arabia takes off to Hofuf
Air Arabia recently announced operations to Hofuf in Saudi Arabia from Sharjah. The new service will commence with four weekly flights operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and…
Lufthansa augments Saudi capacity
The Saudi Arabia sector is turning out to be the largest schedule for Lufthansa with a total of 24 weekly departures. The airline in a recent development has increased its services…
flynas targets 20 million passengers by 2020
Flynas has set out a strong and aggressive target for 2020. The airline with a brand new livery and new business strategy aims to target 20 million passengers by 2020, as reported in…
Saudi domestic tourism flights touch 33m
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities ( SCTA ), said that there were 33 million domestic flights for local tourists in 2012, providing…
Etihad Airways to launch flights to Medina
Etihad Airways has announced plans to launch non-stop daily flights to Medina. The new service will begin effective 1 February 2014. With the addition of the new service, the airline…
Rotana strengthens Saudi expansion with Rosh Rayhaan opening
Rotana recently strengthened its expansion plans in the Saudi hospitality market with the opening of Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana in Q1 2014.
The new hotel will consist of 236 rooms and…
Accor rolls out management training program in KSA
Accor Middle East recently launched the all-new ‘Saudi Management Training Program’. The initiative is designed to nurture careers of Saudi Nationals in the field of hospitality with…
Online travel in Saudi Arabia to exceed US$1.9bn in 2014
Recent study by Travelport suggests that the online travel industry in Saudi Arabia is developing at a rapid rate with online bookings expected to exceed US$1.9bn in 2014.
“The online…
Rosh Rayhaan to be operational by Q1 of 2014
Rotana Hotel Group’s expansion plan for Saudi Arabia will result in adding 1500 jobs and 4100 rooms and suites to the Saudi hospitality sector by 2016. This boost in numbers will be…
MoH to expand ‘low-cost Haj’ project next year
The success of this year's ‘low-cost Haj’ project has encouraged the Ministry of Haj to expand the project in the future. The ‘low-cost Haj’ project seeks to provide domestic pilgrims…
Gulf Air boosts Saudi network
Gulf Air has added seven additional flights to its existing schedule to Riyadh to meet increasing passenger demand. Effective 27 October 2013, the airline will operate one extra…
Plan to increase Mina capacity to 7 mn pilgrims approved
A comprehensive 30-year plan to expand the Mina valley so as to accommodate seven million pilgrims has got the approval of the Board of Senior Ulema, as reported by Al-Eqtisadiah Arabic…
Turkish Airlines showcase Bilbao to Saudi agents
Turkish Airlines recently hosted a group of travel agents from Saudi Arabia on a tour the city of Bilbao in Spain. The initiative was conducted for the first time in partnership with Spanish…
Hilton Garden Inn to debut in Al Khobar
Hilton Worldwide will soon introduce its Hilton Garden Inn brand to Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia. This announcement was followed by signing of an agreement with local investor Ali Saad Bin…
Saudi Arabia gets two Carlson Rezidor properties
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group recently announced two new hotels to their growing portfolio in Saudi Arabia - The mid-market Park Inn by Radisson Riyadh and the Radisson Blu Hotel &…
Shaza Hotels confirm new Middle East developments
Shaza Hotels have added three more hotels to their portfolio. Shaza Jeddah was signed recently and is the most recent of the three projects to be signed.
The new 140-room hotel will…
HajjSalam smartphone app launched
Dubai-based Hajjnet has recently launched the regions’ first smart phone app for pilgrims during Hajj.
The application has features that can run without a live Internet connection…
Anthony Worrall
How the year has been panned out for the Crowne Plaza London – The City?
The year has been good so far. However, it is important to highlight that our owner is the Galadari family,…
Qatar Airways launch Ta’if
Qatar Airways further expanded its operations in Saudi Arabia with the launch of flights to Ta'if. The inaugural flight 1206 arrived in Ta'if to a water salute. A high level delegation…
Middle East looks to overtake China’s skyline
The Middle East is aiming for new heights in the global 'Megatall' towers race. This was announced by EC Harris in a unique study; Megatall: What does it take?
As per the study,…
DAMAC Properties launch Paramount serviced residences in KSA
DAMAC Properties have rolled out the Paramount Hotels & Resorts-branded serviced residences tower in Riyadh.
The announcement follows the launch of two Paramount Hotels &…
Qatar Airways boosts flights to Jeddah
In preparation for the Hajj season, Qatar Airways will support he religious month with additional flights to Jeddah.
The new flights will commence from 8 October through to 20…
Prince Faisal launches Haj expo in Saudi Arabia
Madinah’s Prince Faisal bin Salman, who is also chairman of Madinah Haj Committee, launched the Bunyan 6 Exhibition on Hajj services. The event aims to highlight services offered by the…
GCC cyclists gear up for Britain
GCC cyclists have recently taken off on a cycling trip across the British countryside. The trip is part of VisitBritain’s ‘Dunes to Dales’ initiative launched in the GCC, this summer.…
Elaf Bakkah Hotel gears up for opening
The Elaf Bakkah hotel in Makkah Al Mokarrama is gearing up for its soft launch scheduled for end of September. Hotels around the Masjd Al Haram are expecting steady business growth which…
Ethiopian commences Hajj operations
Ethiopian Airlines commenced its Hajj services for 8,000 Ethiopian Hajj pilgrims. The first Ethiopian chartered Hajj flight of 2013 will take-off from Addis Ababa with 234 out of the…
RAK Airways expands in Saudi Arabia
RAK Airways will soon commence operations to Riyadh from 25 September 2013. This growth is part of the expansion into Islamabad and Amman commenced earlier this year.
HE Sheikh Salem…
R Hotels reveals AED1.5bn investment plan
R Hotels is investing AED1.5 billion towards its acquisition and development plans. The investment is on track to double its hotel portfolio to six hotels by end of 2015. The company is…
Saudi railway expansion on track
The Saudi Railway project has received approval of the Supreme Economic Council. The so-called Saudi Railway Master Plan spans from 2010 to 2040 and president of the Saudi Railway…
Hertz takes on Discover the World Marketing in KSA, Bahrain
The Hertz Corporation has appointed Discover the World Marketing as its new General Sales Agent (GSA) in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The new appointment is in line with the Company’s…
Sofitel to manage premium property in Jeddah
Representatives of Al Tamiuz Hotels & Resorts, the diversified Saudi company owned and managed by the Al Harith family has appointed Sofitel Hotels. The hotel chain will manage a…
Nasair celebrates National Day with special rates
Saudi national carrier Nasair, has announced that in celebration of Saudi Arabia's 83rd National Day fares for all Nasair domestic and international flights start from SR 83.
The…
Saudi Arabia to reduce pilgrims travelling by train
The Saudi Haj ministry has said number of pilgrims travelling by trains at the holy sites during the upcoming Haj season will be 25% less than number of pilgrims allowed on the trains last…
Nasair receive Airbus A320 with ‘Sharklet’
Nasair recently received four additional Airbus A320 aircraft with sharklet specifications. The delivery of this aircraft makes Nasair the third airline in the Middle East and first in Saudi…
Capitas, IFA to build YOTEL in KSA
Capitas Group International (CGI) recently signed an exclusive joint venture agreement with IFA Hotel Investments (IFA HI). The agreement targets the development of YOTEL branded hotels…
Starwood takes the Sheraton brand to Dohuk
Starwood Hotels & Resorts will foray into a new region of Iraq – Dohuk. The Group signed an agreement with Mase Co LLC to open a new-build Sheraton hotel in Dohuk. This new property will…
Qatar Airways increases KSA connectivity
Qatar Airways announced it will begin flights to Ta’if Saudi Arabia. The new service will commence from 2 October 2013 with a four times a week service from Doha.
“For nearly 20 years…
Makkah to get accommodation boost
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) signed an agreement with Makkah Real Estate Company to build the largest Holiday Inn in Makkah. The new hotel will boast 1,238 rooms and is due to open in…
Elaf inks agreement with Libyan Hajj office
Elaf Group of Companies recently signed a strategic agreement with the Libyan Hajj office - Libyan Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to accommodate Libyan pilgrims in Makkah Al Mukarama…
Sabre renews agreement with Mosaid Travels and Tourism
Sabre Travel Network Middle East has renewed its agreement with Mosaid Travel and Tourism in Saudi Arabia. The exclusive agreement will enable Mosaid Travel and Tourism to continue using…
World Luxury Expo gets underway at Emirates Palace
The third edition of World Luxury Expo will be held at Emirates Palace. The event scheduled to be held from 27-29 September 2013 is being held as an annual event. Previous editions were held…
25% more space for pilgrims in Mina, Arafat this Haj
Minister of Haj, Bandar Hajjar mentioned that there will be an increase in space allotted for housing of pilgrims in Arafat and Mina during this year's Haj season, as reported by Saudi…
UAE gains US$10.4bn in tourism revenue
A new UN report titled 'Tourism Highlights 2013' shows that tourism revenue reached US$1.09bn - 2.3% of all Middle East international tourism. The top three GCC countries in terms of tourism…
Saudia to launch Toronto flight
Saudi Arabian Airlines is due to operate its first flight to Toronto from 28 October 2013. The airline is finalizing flight schedule and procedures for setting up its counters at Toronto…
Amadeus links up AlMasria Universal Airlines
Amadeus has enabled travel agents to electronically book and issue tickets on AlMasria Universal Airlines for flights from Egypt to select cities in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement…
Riyadh-London flight fails twice
A British Airways flight from Riyadh to London had to be aborted twice in 24 hours due to a fault with its wings.
The first incident occurred on Wednesday (7 August) when the Boeing…
Turkish Airlines boosts frequencies from Saudi Arabia
Turkish Airlines has announced additional flights from Riyadh and Jeddah in order to cater to increased demand from the Kingdom to Istanbul for Eid holidays.
Building on growth…
Light Racers at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is gearing up for the ‘Light Racers’ to be held from 9-18 August 2013.
The event is a celebration of light featuring a series of daily live performances. The…
Hertz SA opens Jeddah workshop
Hertz Saudi Arabia has opened a new workshop to service growing number of corporate rented within the Kingdom. The new workshop is located in the Northern Quarter of Jeddah.
The new…
Saudi Arabia, UAE lead in air travel
Saudi Arabia has been reported to lead the Middle East region in terms of air traffic volume, as reported by Arab News. The sources attribute this to large number of pilgrims travelling to…
Air Arabia boosts Saudi Arabia network
Air Arabia announced the addition of its ninth Saudi Arabian destination - Ha'il. The new route will be launched from 1 August with three services each week from Sharjah.
Operating…
Hotel revenue in GCC expected to reach US$25bn by 2016
According to a recent report by Kuwait Financial Centre ‘Markaz’, estimated room revenue in the GCC hotel sector for the year 2011 stands at US$17.83 billion, and is expected to reach…
Facelift set for Medina with new metro system
Plans have been established for a comprehensive redevelopment of the Saudi Arabian city, Medina. A number of project have been unveiled, including a metro system in order to meet…
flydubai to connect Medina
flydubai will begin operating flights to Medina on 25 July 2013. Flights to Medina will operate between Terminal 2 of Dubai International and Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina.…
Dubai leads in hotel construction: STR Global
The June 2013 report by STR Global stated that the Middle East/Africa hotel development pipeline comprises 491 hotels totaling 120,795 rooms.
Among the region's key markets, Dubai…
Royal Jet caters to Umrah travellers
Royal Jet is providing increasing number of Umrah travellers the option of using one of its jets to travel to Makkah to perform Umrah.
The private aviation company can cater to large…