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Sakaka heritage farm showcases Al-Jouf’s agricultural and cultural identity | 📷SPA RIYADH, June 27 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - A licensed heritage farm and park in Sakaka has emerged as a tourism initiative showcasing the agricultural and cultural identity of Al-Jouf Region. Developed by its owner, Ahmed Al-Arfaj, the site preserves long-standing local traditions while offering a modern experiential destination aligned with Saudi Arabia’s growing tourism sector. The farm

Riyadh Air Launches Daily Direct Flights Between Riyadh and Dubai | 📷SPA RIYADH, June 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Riyadh Air has launched daily direct flights between Riyadh and Dubai, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Flight RX243 departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 2:05 p.m. local time and arrived at Dubai International Airport at 5:00 p.m. local time. The return flight, RX244, departs Dubai at 6:30 p.m

Russia to Restrict Light Aircraft and Drone Flights Around Moscow MOSCOW, June 17 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Russia is introducing restrictions on flights by light private aircraft and drones in Moscow and surrounding regions, Reuters reported. The measures set a minimum altitude requirement of 5,200 meters, or 17,000 feet, aviation authority Rosaviatsiya announced on Wednesday. The requirement applies to light and ultralight aircraft, as well as drones, placing the permi

Saudi Arabia, Portugal Sign Visa Exemption Agreement for Diplomatic and Special Passports | 📷SPA LISBON, June 17 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel signed an agreement on the mutual exemption of entry visas for holders of diplomatic and special passports. The agreement was signed in Lisbon during Prince Faisal’s official visit to Portugal. The agreement

Turkish Airlines, Al Ghazal Sign Agreement for Al-Ahsa–Rize Flights | Photography: SPA AL-AHSA, June 9 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Turkish Airlines and Al Ghazal travel and tourism agency signed an agreement to launch direct flights between Al-Ahsa International Airport and Rize–Artvin Airport in Türkiye, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The signing was sponsored by Al-Ahsa Governor Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr. The agreement supports efforts to strengthen international

flydubai, Cyprus Airways sign interline agreement DUBAI, May 22 — flydubai and Cyprus Airways have signed a new interline agreement to expand international connectivity through Dubai International Airport. The agreement allows passengers to travel on a single itinerary with coordinated baggage handling and streamlined transfers via Dubai. Under the partnership, Cyprus Airways passengers travelling from Larnaca will be able to connect through Dubai to flydubai destinations inc

Etihad to double A380 Paris service this summer ABU DHABI, May 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Etihad Airways will increase its Airbus A380 service to Paris Charles de Gaulle to double daily from July 1, WAM reported. The expansion will raise Etihad’s Abu Dhabi-Paris route to three daily flights overall. The schedule will include two daily A380 services from Zayed Abu Dhabi International Airport, with morning and afternoon departures. A third daily Boeing 787-9 service will

Riyadh Air opens public sales for Riyadh-London flights | Photography: SPA RIYADH, May 19 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Riyadh Air announced the launch of full public ticket sales for flights between Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and London Heathrow, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The route will begin operating with Riyadh Air’s new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from July 1, 2026. Tickets are available through the Riyadh Air app, the airline’s website and a

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