Saudi Arabia is ramping up its tourism infrastructure in cities across the kingdom as it tries to increase tourism-related jobs.
The kingdom’s tourism industry, which is dominated by pilgrims and business travellers, has experienced a rise in religious tourists after the visa policy was relaxed. Also, a large number of Saudis are travelling domestically.
Last year, tourists to the kingdom increased 10 per cent to 16.7 million. Thirty-two million Saudis travelled within the country, a rise of 7.5 per cent, and 22.5 million Saudis travelled abroad.
“The market is developing fast and there is a demand in the quality of tourism services in Saudi Arabia that is putting pressure on the whole industry,” said Hamad Al Sheikh, the vice president of marketing and programmes at the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.
Airlines servicing Saudi Arabia were losing out on 2 million seats a year because there was not enough capacity, he estimated.
While there are 28 regional airports in the kingdom, the government is expanding the international ones to service more passengers.
The upgrade of King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh will increase its capacity to 35 million passengers a year from about 17 million now.
The number of flights serving the secondary cities such as Qassim, Abha and Tabuk were also being increased.
Qatar Airways will start serving Saudi Arabia through Al Maha Airways, a separate domestic carrier, at the end of the year. Another Dammam-based carrier, Saudi Gulf Airlines, backed by the Abdel Hadi Al Qahtani group, will also start operations by the year-end.
“There is a demand from the younger population, and this is a major market now and for the future,” Mr Al Sheikh said. Almost half of Saudi Arabia’s population is under 20 years old. The World Bank has estimated the Saudi population at 30 million in 2012.
To service the rising number of domestic and international visitors, the kingdom needs more tour operators, Mr Al Sheikh said.
At present it has 160 tour operators which cater mostly to religious tourists.
This week, Riyadh-based Al Tayyar Travel Group acquired 70 per cent of Egypt’s Al Hanouf Tourism and Services and its subsidiary companies for 40.95m Saudi riyals (Dh40.11m). Al Hanouf Tourism facilitates the travel of 4,500 Haj and Umrah pilgrims annually in addition to handling tourists from other parts of the Gulf.
Regional councils across 13 provinces are also getting more power to outline regulations for land use, investment and project financing in tourism.
The challenge is in the secondary cities where there is seasonal demand, but these are coming up with projects for resorts, especially along the Red Sea coast, Mr Al Sheikh said.
The kingdom expects the tourism industry to employ 1.2 million by 2020. It currently employs 751,000 people, of which 27 per cent are Saudis.
“We are pushing to get more Saudis [to work] in the hotels,” Mr Al Sheikh said.
The sector contributes 75 billion riyals to the economy, or 2.7 per cent of GDP.
In keeping with the increased activity from the government to promote tourism, international hotel brands are also flocking to the market.
About 17,135 rooms are under construction in Saudi Arabia, which is more than the 16,627 rooms being built in the UAE and the 5,633 rooms coming in Qatar, according to the research company STR Global’s report for last month.
Saudi hotels enjoyed 75.4 per cent occupancy last month. The average room rate increased 3.2 per cent to 707.52 riyals, according to STR Global.
“Developers and operators also see the opportunity for newer and better hotels across the country, as the existing stock is dominated by independently operated and low-quality properties,” said Rashid Aboobacker, a senior consultant with TRI Hospitality Consulting. “The high level of liquidity and the excellent return potential are also attracting strong private sector interest in tourism investments in the country now.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing Saudi Travel and Tourism Investment Market exhibition in Riyadh has brought together major projects and vendors from both public and private sectors. The forum also seeks to address key issues related to the sector.
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
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Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
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