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AROYA Cruises to return to Mediterranean for summer 2026 season (Photography: Courtesy of SPA) JEDDAH, May 17 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – AROYA Cruises, operated by Cruise Saudi and fully owned by the Public Investment Fund, will return to the Mediterranean during the summer 2026 season, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The cruises will depart from Galataport Istanbul, which will serve as AROYA’s main Mediterranean home port. The seven-night routes will include destination

ALULA, May 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – AlUla is expanding its seasonal tourism offering with heritage tours, adventure activities and luxury hospitality experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The destination is promoting summer travel from May to August, with temperatures up to 10 degrees cooler than other areas in the region. Visitors can explore Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Jabal Ikmah, known for its ancient inscriptions. AlUla wi

Miraval The Red Sea set to welcome guests with stunning beachfront villas and lush gardens on May 15. RIYADH, May 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Red Sea Global announced that Miraval The Red Sea will begin welcoming guests on May 15, marking the first international expansion of the luxury Miraval brand outside the United States, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The company said the launch reinforces the Red Sea destination’s position as a global tourism hub after occupancy

Photography | Courtesy of SPA JEDDAH, April 30 — Saudia has announced its summer 2026 seasonal destinations, with services scheduled during June, July, August and September to a range of leisure markets across Europe and the region. The destinations include Salalah in Oman, Antalya and Bodrum in Turkey, Nice in France, Athens and Mykonos in Greece, El Alamein in Egypt, and Malaga in Spain. The airline said the seasonal routes were scheduled to match peak travel periods while

ABU DHABI, April 28 — Etihad Airways and Air Cambodia have launched a codeshare partnership, allowing Etihad customers to book flights to Siem Reap via Phnom Penh on a single ticket with baggage checked through to their final destination. The agreement gives Etihad passengers easier access to Cambodia’s tourism market, including the Angkor Wat temple complex, while Air Cambodia travelers will be able to book Etihad’s service between Phnom Penh and Abu Dhabi. The partnership a

RIYADH, April 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Transavia France said it would cancel some flights in May and June because of rising fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East. The low-cost carrier, part of the Air France-KLM group, said the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East and its impact on aviation fuel prices had forced the cancellations. French media said the cancellations represented less than 2% of the airline’s May and June flight programme. Tran

WAM RIYADH, April 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Etihad Airways will launch five new routes to mainland China and add 28 weekly flights in one of its largest single-market expansions in recent years, as the Abu Dhabi-based carrier deepens its presence across a key trade and travel corridor. The expansion will add services from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport to Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Shenzhen, raising Etihad’s mainland China operation to

SPA JEDDAH, April 11, 2026, Saudi Arabia Breaking News - As late winter gives way to early spring, the desert of the Northern Borders Region is being covered with blooming anemones, known in Arabic as Shaqaiq Al-Numan, in a seasonal scene that highlights the beauty of the desert and its botanical diversity following the rainy season. The Saudi Press Agency observed anemones spreading across several wilderness areas, covering wide stretches of land in bright red and creating s

SPA RIYADH, April 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Domestic tourism in Saudi Arabia rose sharply in the first quarter of 2026, with the number of local tourists reaching about 28.9 million, up 16% from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism. Domestic tourism spending reached SAR34.7 billion during the period, an increase of 8%, while the total number of domestic and international tourists climbed to around 37.2 million, with combined spendi

BRUSSELS, April 7, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — The European Union will introduce the mandatory Carrier Interface application from April 10 to verify travellers’ eligibility to enter Schengen countries, as part of a broader rollout of border modernisation measures. Operators are in the final stages of technical and operational preparations, while the eu-LISA Carrier Working Group and the European Commission continue to address remaining technical and implementation issues. Ca

Livery of British Airways passenger planes are seen at Heathrow Airport in west London, Britain, January 28, 2025. REUTERS LONDON, March 16, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – British Airways said on Monday it would extend temporary reductions to its flight schedules across the Middle East as regional tensions and airspace instability continue to disrupt aviation operations. The airline said last week it had cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and T

SPA AlUla, March 14 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — AlUla has seen rising demand since the start of Ramadan from residents and visitors seeking quiet surroundings and varied tourism experiences that combine desert landscapes with heritage and historical sites. The governorate’s calm atmosphere has remained one of its main attractions during the holy month, with many fasting visitors choosing places away from the pace of major cities. AlUla’s landscape of mountains, rock format

Dubai, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said on Friday that the country will gradually resume air traffic following closures linked to drone strikes on Dubai’s airport and disruptions during two weeks of conflict. Authorities said the resumption will take place progressively after aviation operations were halted amid security concerns. The UAE’s leadership has expressed confidence in the country’s air defense systems, even as fl

Cairo, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The firing of the Ramadan iftar cannon remains a longstanding tradition in Cairo and several Arab cities, marking the moment of sunset and the start of the evening meal during the holy month. As sunset approaches during Ramadan evenings, many Egyptian households await the sound of the cannon, a signal that has long been associated with the call to break the fast and with the atmosphere of Ramadan nights. The cannon is typically f

SPA AlUla, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – AlUla governorate holds a rich human and civilizational heritage spanning thousands of years, reflected in rock inscriptions, archaeological sites and ancient trade routes that document the presence of successive civilizations in the region. Rock inscriptions found across AlUla’s mountains and valleys provide a visual record of civilizations that passed through the area, illustrating how early communities documented their liv

Jeddah, March 13 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabian Airlines has added 20 flights between Riyadh, Jeddah and the Red Sea destination during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, in cooperation with the Saudi Tourism Authority and Red Sea Destination, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday. The additional flights bring the total number of services on the route in both directions to 44. The initiative forms part of a partnership aimed at promoting tourism destinations in the Ki

SPA Riyadh, March 11, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — King Abdulaziz Road remains one of the most prominent architectural and cultural landmarks in Jeddah, reflecting the city’s historic evolution and long-standing connection to maritime trade. Located in the heart of historic Jeddah, the road has for decades served as a major commercial and social artery linking traditional markets with the seaport. Historic buildings line both sides of the street, showcasing the distinc

Riyadh, March 11, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Qatar Airways announced a limited flight schedule in the coming days after receiving temporary authorization from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, aiming to support passengers affected by recent travel disruptions. Flights departing from Doha on March 12 are scheduled to include Cairo, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Sao Paulo, New York, Frankfurt, Madrid, London, Beijing, Mumbai, Delhi, Islamabad, Colombo, Jakarta and Manila

Riyadh, March 8 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Emirates is operating a reduced flight schedule after the partial reopening of regional airspace, with the Dubai-based airline publishing a list of routes currently operating from Dubai. The carrier advised passengers to check their flight status before traveling and confirmed that transit passengers will only be accepted if their connecting flights are operating. The airline said it continues to monitor the situation and will ad

WAM RIYADH, March 6, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Emirates expects to restore its full flight network within days, subject to airspace availability and operational requirements, the airline said on Friday. Following the partial reopening of regional airspace, the carrier is operating a reduced schedule while gradually restoring services across its global network. About 30,000 passengers departed Dubai on Emirates flights on Thursday. By March 7, the airline plans to op