Saudi Arabia breaks ground on new Westin Abha tourism project
Mon, 31 Aug 2026
Aseer Governor Prince Turki bin Talal laid the foundation stone for the “Westin Abha” project, spanning more than 153,000 square metres and featuring 330 hotel units, 52 villas and chalets, and 78 residential units, in a bid to strengthen the region’s tourism sector.
Holiday Inn launches Elite Gaming Pods across four Saudi hotels
Sun, 30 Aug 2026
Holiday Inn, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Essentials Collection, has partnered with global educational esports provider EStars to launch Elite Gaming Pods across four hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi hotel sector defies travel disruptions as Makkah RevPAR rises 8.7pc: JLL
Wed, 26 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia’s hotel sector has remained resilient despite broader international travel disruptions, supported by religious tourism, sustained domestic travel and revenue and cost optimisation, according to JLL’s KSA Hotels Market Dynamics Q2 2026 report.
flyadeal marks first anniversary of Pakistan operations
Wed, 26 Aug 2026
flyadeal, the Saudia Group’s low-cost carrier, is marking one year of operations to Islamabad, Peshawar and Sialkot, strengthening connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
wfrlee secures Saudi registration to accelerate tourism-tech expansion
Mon, 24 Aug 2026
wfrlee.com, a “pay-as-you-stay” short-stay booking platform, has secured formal registration to establish its Saudi entity through an Investment Registration Certificate (Entrepreneur type), marking a key step in its expansion into the Kingdom’s rapidly growing tourism market.
Saudi Tourism Development Fund appoints new spokesperson
Mon, 24 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has appointed Mashail Mohammed Alkarni as its Official Spokesperson, as part of efforts to strengthen corporate communications and enhance engagement with the media and wider public.
Saudia offers 50pc discounts, AlFursan bonus credits
Sun, 23 Aug 2026
Saudia has launched a promotional offer providing discounts of up to 50% on Guest Class and Business Class flights from Saudi Arabia to international destinations, as well as connecting services across its network spanning four continents.
Riyadh Air’s Sfeer membership set to hit one million
Sun, 23 Aug 2026
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier and a PIF company, expects its Sfeer lifestyle membership programme to reach one million members this month, less than a year after launch.
Saudi Arabia's Bisha Airport passenger numbers top 600,000 in H1
Thu, 20 Aug 2026
Cluster2 Airports, operator of Bisha Airport, has reported significant growth in the airport's operational performance during 2025 and the first half of 2026.
CONTINUUM ’26: Diriyah Art Futures presents cutting-edge artworks
Wed, 19 Aug 2026
Diriyah Art Futures (DAF), an asset of the Museums Commission under the Saudi Ministry of Culture, has announced the lineup for CONTINUUM ‘26, an exhibition celebrating the creative output of the participants in its second Emerging New Media Artists Programme.
King Abdulaziz International Airport serves 28.55m passengers Jan to July
Mon, 17 Aug 2026
The King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah served around 28.55 million passengers on 169,900 flights from the beginning of the year through the end of July, while handling 33.6 million bags.
Saudi Tourism Ministry updates Hajj accommodation standards
Sat, 15 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has approved updated regulations governing accommodation facilities serving Hajj pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah ahead of the 1448 AH Hajj season.
Saudi luxury travellers seek trust, cultural understanding: KBLT Chairman
Wed, 12 Aug 2026
Saudi luxury travellers are reshaping global hospitality, with KBLT Chairman Sulaiman Al Romi urging international brands to prioritise privacy, cultural understanding, trust and discreet service over traditional displays of luxury as competition for the market intensifies.
SAL becomes first Saudi company to receive IATA SeMS certification
Wed, 12 Aug 2026
SAL Logistics Services, Saudi Arabia’s national leader in cargo handling, logistics and supply chain management, has received the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Security Management System (SeMS) Level 1 certification.
flynas to launch Jeddah-Aleppo flights from August 21
Wed, 12 Aug 2026
flynas, the Saudi low-cost carrier, will launch direct flights between Jeddah and Aleppo in Syria from August 21, expanding its international network and strengthening air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Syria. The airline will operate two weekly flights on the new route.
Riyadh Air launches daily Dhaka service
Tue, 11 Aug 2026
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier, has launched daily flights between Riyadh and Dhaka, marking its entry into the Bangladeshi market and its ninth operating destination since beginning operations on June 10, 2026.
Riyadh Air, TravelSky sign distribution deal to expand China presence
Sun, 09 Aug 2026
Riyadh Air and China’s TravelSky Technology have signed a Distribution Cooperation Agreement in Beijing, marking a key step in the Saudi carrier’s entry into the Chinese market and strengthening air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China.
Boutique Group unveils visual identity for The Red Palace ahead of opening
Wed, 05 Aug 2026
Boutique Group, the hospitality company fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has unveiled the visual identity of The Red Palace, introducing the first chapter of the historic property’s story ahead of its anticipated opening.
flynas to launch direct Madinah-Brussels flights in October
Wed, 05 Aug 2026
Saudi low-cost carrier flynas will launch direct flights between Madinah and Brussels from October 5, 2026, expanding its international network and offering passengers more travel options between Saudi Arabia and Belgium.
Cluster2 Airports earns ACI Level 3 Accreditation for 18 airports
Wed, 05 Aug 2026
Cluster2 Airports, a leading aviation operator in Saudi Arabia, has strengthened its international standing after 18 of its airports earned the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Customer Experience Accreditation at Level 3.
Saudi hospitality sector hit by softer corporate travel in H1
Tue, 04 Aug 2026
Saudi Arabia's hotel market lost momentum in the first half of the year as corporate travel slowed and regional uncertainty dampened demand, but industry fundamentals remain intact, backed by higher domestic tourism spend and an expanding pipeline of hotel projects, an industry expert said.