Saudi Arabia to host major AERO Middle East airshow in November
Thu, 12 Feb 2026
Messe Frankfurt Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Aviation Club have announced the launch of AERO Middle East x Sand & Fun 2026, a landmark aviation platform.
Premier Inn signs MoU to develop up to eight hotels in Mideast
Thu, 12 Feb 2026
Premier Inn Middle East has signed an MoU with Equitativa Real Estate to develop six to eight hotels, adding 3,500 keys across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The AED 2 billion ($545 million) investment will double Premier Inn’s current portfolio of 3,184 keys.
Gulf Hotels Group enters Saudi market with three Makkah properties
Wed, 11 Feb 2026
Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) has signed an MoU with Burhan Hotels to enter Saudi Arabia, covering three Makkah hotels with around 1,000 rooms. GHG will operate and manage the properties, oversee renovations and repositioning, and pursue partnerships with international hotel brands as part of its expansion strategy.
Saudi TDF, Palladium Hotel Group sign tourism development pact
Wed, 11 Feb 2026
Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) signed a MoU with Palladium Hotel Group to explore development opportunities across several regions of Saudi Arabia. The agreement focuses on strengthening cooperation, assessing potential projects, conducting feasibility studies, identifying suitable investment structures, and reviewing technical and operational frameworks.
Saudi Arabia, Spain to enhance cooperation in civil aviation
Tue, 10 Feb 2026
Saudi Arabia and Spain signed two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in the fields of civil aviation and future modes of transportation. The agreements are expected to raise aviation safety standards, enhance security, improve air operation quality, and elevate passenger experience.
Saudi tourism aims to double GDP contribution to $160 billion
Mon, 09 Feb 2026
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the sector aims to double its contribution to the kingdom's GDP from SAR300 billion ($80 billion) to SAR600 billion ($160 billion), while continuing to create jobs as the private sector recruits national talent.
Ashoka Buildcon–BEC Arabia JV lands Diriyah hotel project contract
Sat, 07 Feb 2026
Indian infrastructure group Ashoka Buildcon said its joint venture with Saudi-based BEC Arabia Contracting has secured the main construction works contract for a hotel project within Saudi Arabia's giga development - Diriyah, The City of Earth, coming up near Riyadh.
flynas plans new route to Rabat
Thu, 05 Feb 2026
flynas, a low-cost airline in the Middle East, announced its plan to launch of a new air route to Rabat soon. flynas hosted a gala dinner in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, to mark three years of operating direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Morocco. Over the past three years, flynas has transported more than 300,000 passengers between the two kingdoms.
Top firms in deal to invest in KAEC tourism, lifestyle projects
Wed, 04 Feb 2026
K Hovnanian ME Investments (KHME), a subsidiary of Hovnanian Enterprises, and the majority shareholder of Al Tahaluf Real Estate Company, CJSC, has signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) and Emaar, The Economic City (EEC) to enable high-quality tourism investment and lifestyle-focused residential opportunities in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
Rixos Murjana to open as Saudi’s largest ultra all-inclusive resort
Tue, 03 Feb 2026
Rixos Murjana, enabled by Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF), is set to open in King Abdullah Economic City as the largest ultra all-inclusive resort in Saudi Arabia and a landmark destination along the Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia, Singapore Airlines sign direct air route agreement
Tue, 03 Feb 2026
The Saudi Air Connectivity Programme (ACP) and Singapore Airlines have signed an agreement to launch the first direct air route between Singapore and Riyadh. Beginning June 2026, four weekly flights will operate, boosting tourism, trade, and connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
Saudi Arabia’s Cluster2 Airports welcomes 19.9m passengers in 2025
Mon, 02 Feb 2026
Cluster2 Airports, which operates 22 airports across Saudi Arabia, reported remarkable performance in 2025, welcoming over 19.9 million passengers—an 11% increase from the previous year. They also handled more than 164,000 flights, a 7% rise, with 87.9% of departures and 87.4% of arrivals operating on schedule.
Hilton launches women in leadership programme in Saudi Arabia
Mon, 02 Feb 2026
Hilton has announced the launch of Raeidat (meaning Pioneers), its new Women in Leadership programme in Saudi Arabia – a development journey created to prepare women for future leadership roles within the hospitality sector. The inaugural cohort brings together 25 women from 10 Hilton hotels across the Kingdom,
WTM Spotlight Riyadh to explore hotel growth, influence of Saudi travellers
Mon, 02 Feb 2026
The inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh, which will take place from September 8 to 10 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center (RFECC), will focus on the large-scale hotel development, and the increasing influence of Saudi travellers at home and abroad.
Saudi Arabia’s air passenger numbers top 140m in 2025
Thu, 29 Jan 2026
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector achieved exceptional growth in 2025, setting record figures in air traffic statistics. The number of passengers exceeded 140 million, up about 9%.
UAE, Saudi Arabia among largest wellness markets: GWI
Wed, 28 Jan 2026
The Global Wellness Institute reports that the largest wellness markets and standout five-year growth leaders include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Mexico, Poland, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, the US, and Australia, according to its annual Country Rankings report covering wellness data from 145 countries worldwide.
W Hotels to debut in Saudi Arabia with W Riyadh – KAFD
Tue, 27 Jan 2026
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio, is set to enter Saudi Arabia with the opening of W Riyadh – KAFD this spring. Located in the heart of the King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh’s landmark urban development, the hotel will feature 210 guestrooms, including 17 suites, two penthouses, and the W Penthouse.
Saudi Arabia invests $400bn in tourism sector: Minister
Fri, 23 Jan 2026
Saudi Arabia has become a major global player in tourism, with the sector now contributing approximately 5% of the kingdom’s GDP and accounting for nearly 5% of total employment, said Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia leads new global push to protect coral reefs
Thu, 22 Jan 2026
Saudi Arabia will host the first Global Coral Reef Summit in 2026, bringing together global leaders, scientists, and investors to drive solutions for the protection and recovery of coral reef ecosystems.
64pc surge in domestic travel in Saudi Arabia this winter: Wego
Wed, 21 Jan 2026
Recent Wego data shows domestic winter travel in Saudi Arabia surged, with local flight bookings up 64% year-on-year. Residents increasingly favour short, experience-focused trips exploring the Kingdom’s cultural, recreational, and natural attractions.
ENVI to develop wellness mountain retreat in Taif, Saudi Arabia
Wed, 21 Jan 2026
ENVI Lodges, the outdoor hospitality brand specialising in experiential lodges, has signed a management agreement to develop ENVI Al Shafa, a mountain retreat nestled in the serene hills near Taif, Saudi Arabia. Scheduled to open in December 2026.