Tag Archives: Riyadh

SAUDIA has added 20 flights between Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Red Sea destination during Eid Al-Fitr, in cooperation with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and the Red Sea destination, as part of a partnership aimed at promoting tourist destinations and supporting the development of the Kingdom’s tourism sector. This brings the total number of flights in both directions to 44.The long-term partnership between SAUDIA and STA aims to provide suitable flight options and a distinctive onboard experience, supporting the Kingdom’s goal of attracting 150 million tourists by 2030.

Fairmont Ramla Riyadh won the title as ‘Best Contemporary Luxury Hotel’ at the inaugural Arabian Travel Awards Saudi Arabia 2025. “Winning the Arabian Travel Awards in KSA is a proud recognition of our commitment to excellence, quality, and hospitality. This award strengthens the Fairmont brand, positions us as a trusted leader in Saudi Arabia’s tourism market, and reflects the dedication of our team in supporting Saudi Vision 2030 through world-class tourism experiences.”- Mohammed Mahalawi, Director of Housekeeping, Fairmont Ramla Riyadh

Rove Hotels is set to enter the Saudi Arabian market with the upcoming opening of its first property in the Kingdom, a 240-room hotel located in Olaya, Riyadh. The launch marks a significant milestone in the brand’s regional expansion strategy and reflects growing investor confidence in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector. Strategically positioned in one of Riyadh’s key commercial districts, the hotel is designed to cater to business travellers, urban explorers and long-stay guests, offering contemporary accommodation aligned with evolving travel demand in the capital. The property will feature Rove’s signature efficient design, technology-enabled services and flexible public spaces aimed at supporting both business and leisure needs. The entry into Saudi Arabia underscores Rove Hotels’ commitment to expanding its footprint across high-growth markets in the Middle East, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives to enhance tourism infrastructure and diversify the economy. Further details on the opening timeline and operational partners are expected to be announced shortly.With easy access to Boulevard Riyadh City, Diriyah, King Salman International Airport, and Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Sofitel announces the opening of Sofitel Riyadh Hotel and Convention Centre, marking the brand’s debut in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capital. Strategically located in the prestigious Ar Rahmaniyyah neighbourhood, the hotel reflects the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, contributing to the Kingdom’s transformation through world-class hospitality, international connectivity and the development of large-scale business and cultural events. The property features the largest luxury hotel convention centre in Riyadh, offering nearly 8,500 square metres of flexible event space, alongside 388 sophisticated rooms and suites. The opening represents a significant milestone for Sofitel as it brings its signature blend of French elegance and local cultural inspiration to one of the Middle East’s most dynamic destinations. Only 35 minutes from King Khalid International Airport, with private transfers available, the property is also near iconic landmarks, including Kingdom Centre Tower, Kingdom Centre Mall, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Diriyah. Designed as a destination in its own right, Sofitel Riyadh offers an immersive luxury experience where French zest meets the heritage, creativity, and forward-looking spirit of Saudi Arabia. The launch comes at a time when Riyadh continues to expand its global presence, welcoming business leaders, international travellers, and cultural explorers alike. The building’s architecture draws inspiration from the desert dunes and from the first Arabic letter of King Abdullah’s name, symbolizing continuity with the Kingdom’s heritage. With 388 sophisticated rooms and suites, the 5-star hotel provides the perfect combination of luxury and convenience. Adding to the hotel’s sense of ritual and refinement is the Sofitel Candle Ritual, an evocative brand tradition inspired by the Parisian streets once illuminated daily by candlelight in the era of Louis XIV. Together with considered design details, …

flyadeal is launching five routes from Madinah, its newest operational base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The introduction of scheduled flights to Sabiha Gökçen in Istanbul and four domestic cities of Abha, Al Hofuf, Jazan and Tabuk, takes the number of flyadeal destinations from Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport up from three to eight. Until now, flyadeal had served Dammam, Riyadh and the Egyptian capital Cairo from the Holy city. The capacity hike represents a 40 per cent increase in the number of flyadeal operated flights out of Madinah to 88 a week, giving customers greater travel options. Two aircraft are now permanently positioned at the airport, which joins flyadeal’s three other operational bases of Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. To mark the expansion, airport officials joined flyadeal management led by Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Rogier van Enk, for a fanfare of engaging activities celebrating with passengers. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve steadily built capacity from Madinah, but this expansion of five new routes at the beginning of the year is a statement of intent from flyadeal to develop Madinah into one of our key operational bases. “Having aircraft positioned in Madinah gives us the flexibility to quickly upgrade with more frequencies or add routes to a schedule which will continue to be built up giving our customers more choices and convenience of direct flights to travel within the Kingdom and beyond. Madinah was a natural addition as a base given its prominence as the second holiest city in the Islamic world and key gateway for pilgrims.” The expanded schedule supplements flyadeal’s dedicated year-round Umrah flights from several countries direct to Madinah, north of the Saudi port …

The Arabian Travel Awards concluded its First Edition in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step forward in recognising and honouring top achievers within the Kingdom’s fast-growing travel, tourism, and hospitality sector. The event celebrated trailblazers, innovators, and organisations whose contributions are driving Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a world-class global destination. With the Kingdom’s tourism landscape evolving at record pace under Vision 2030, the inaugural edition aimed to spotlight excellence across airlines, hotels, travel agencies, technology providers, tourism boards, and service partners — shaping the future of travel in the region. The event was supported by TravTalk Middle East as the official media partner, bringing regional coverage and industry visibility to the award winners, participating brands, and the broader travel community. TravTalk Middle East’s partnership reinforces the shared mission of empowering industry talent, encouraging innovation, and amplifying Saudi Arabia’s tourism potential to global audiences. The First Arabian Travel Awards in Saudi Arabia represents the beginning of a new chapter — one that celebrates success stories, elevates standards, and strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a leading tourism hub.

The UAE’s coveted Arabian Travel Awards will debut in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tonight to recognise the silent contributors of the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in the kingdom. An invite-only black-tie event is the perfect platform which brings together cities from across the kingdom to network and recognise the individuals and companies that have dedicated their efforts to make the kingdom a tourism powerhouse. The Arabian Travel Awards known as the Oscars of the industry started in the Middle East region in 2017 in the UAE. After eight years of success and the request of the avid readers of TravTalkME, this year it debuts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Convener of the prestigious award San Jeet shares that this award is an honour bestowed on the visionaries, innovators, and leaders who have significantly contributed to the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Arabian Travel Awards is DDP group’s first-ever international initiative to celebrate the best talent from the tourism and hospitality industries in the Middle East. The awards consist of a unique system of jury judgement and internet voting to give out absolutely fair and unbiased results. San Jeet, Convener Arabian Travel Awards and CEO DDP Group, ““With Arabian Travel Awards, we aim at identifying and encouraging talent of all kinds in the tourism sector. Owing to these stars, the graph of the Middle East tourism industry has touched remarkable heights. It is our pleasure to honour them for their achievements. This initiative will help encourage more talent to develop and take this vibrant industry to a much higher level. We celebrate excellence, recognize achievements, and look forward to the continued growth and success of our industry. The …

As Saudi Arabia advances its Vision 2030 agenda, the first WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia will convene global travel leaders in Riyadh from 29 September to 1 October 2026. The event will unite over 450 exhibitors, 6,500 regional and international visitors, and 150 international hosted buyers, serving as a catalyst for partnerships, innovation, and investment. It will offer a platform for industry leaders to focus on inbound and outbound travel conversations by exploring the future of Saudi Arabia’s tourism, including mobility, hospitality, technology, sustainability, and visitor experiences. The landmark event will connect international and Saudi travel communities to explore the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding inbound and outbound tourism markets. Set against the backdrop of the Kingdom’s ambitious tourism targets, which include a 10% GDP contribution from tourism by 2030, the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh will take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre (RFECC). Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is growing rapidly, driven by significant government investment and a national diversification strategy. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that the sector will contribute more than US$119 billion to the national economy in 2025, accounting for over 10% of GDP and supporting 2.7 million jobs. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Saudi Arabia recorded the world’s highest growth in international tourism spending during the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the country’s success in attracting new visitors and investment. The Ministry of Tourism recently announced record-breaking results for the “Saudi Summer” 2025 programme, which attracted more than 32 million domestic and international visitors, representing a 26% increase compared with summer 2024. Tourist expenditure during the period reached SAR 53.2 billion (US$14.2 billion), marking a 15% year-on-year growth. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, …

Arsenale S.p.A., Italy’s leading company in the development of high-end hospitality experiences by rail, announced a major milestone in the creation of Dream of the Desert, the first ultra-luxury train Made in Italy that will operate in Saudi Arabia starting in 2026. The agreement establishes a strategic framework to support the financing for the development of the project, as well as contributing to its global positioning, marking a new chapter in Saudi Arabia’s evolution as a global destination for experiential and sustainable tourism. Dream of the Desert will feature 33 luxurious cabins designed to host up to 66 passengers, combining the highest standards of Italian design and craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology and sustainable innovation. The train will travel along an extraordinary 1,300-kilometer route from Riyadh to the north of the country, unveiling the Kingdom’s hidden natural and cultural treasures through an immersive journey that blends elegance, comfort, and discovery. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Arsenale S.p.A. and the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) was signed during the opening day of TOURISE 2025, the leading international event for luxury travel held in Riyadh. In his statement, Qusai Al-Fakhri, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund said: “Our partnership with Arsenale marks a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey to redefine global luxury tourism. Dream of the Desert is more than a world-class travel experience, it is a bridge between cultures, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s breathtaking landscapes and rich heritage through the elegance of Italian craftsmanship. At TDF, we are proud to enable pioneering projects like this, which bring innovation, sustainability, and investment into the tourism sector while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a distinctive and inspiring destination for discerning travelers worldwide.” “With Dream of …

The 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly opened in Riyadh, marking a historic first for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and the largest Assembly since UN Tourism was founded 50 years ago. Around 160 delegations from member states including ministers, senior officials, and leaders from across industry and civil society are coming together to celebrate five decades of international collaboration under the theme “AI-Powered Tourism: Redefining the Future.” The Assembly is hosted by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, with extensive cooperation and planning alongside UN Tourism and a wide range of partners. This collaboration underscores the Kingdom’s dedication to advancing the industry and facilitating impactful dialogue on the global stage. For half a century, UN Tourism has advanced economic opportunity, cross-cultural understanding, and peace through travel. With the sector’s rapid digital transformation reshaping how people discover, book, and experience destinations, this year’s Assembly focuses on ensuring AI serves people and places supporting jobs, small businesses, destination stewardship, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Over the coming days, delegates will participate in four plenary sessions, numerous meetings of seven specialized committees, and the 124th and 125th sessions of the Executive Council – the organization’s highest executive body. The agenda is designed to foster discussions on how artificial intelligence and digital transformation can accelerate sustainable, inclusive growth and deepen international cooperation in tourism. His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, said: “Saudi Arabia is proud to welcome the world to the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly as we celebrate 50 years of UN Tourism’s global cooperation and shared progress. This week marks a defining moment for our industry — a chance to shape how tourism grows in the decades …