Saudia Holidays and AlUla Announce Strategic Partnership to Elevate AlUla as a Premier Year-Round Destination

Saudia Holidays in collaboration with AlUla, the ancient oasis city in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, has announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the Arabian Travel Market 2024. This collaboration is set to enhance the travel experience to AlUla, providing tailored packages that cater to diverse tourist needs.

As part of the partnership, Saudia will offer six-times-weekly flights from Jeddah and Riyadh, with four weekly flights from Riyadh on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and two from Jeddah on Thursdays and Sundays. These flights are available for booking as stand-alone or as part of all-inclusive packages that include air tickets, accommodations, transportation, and tours, accessible via www.holidaysbysaudia.com. 

Arved von zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer at Saudia, stated, "Enhancing our service offerings to include more frequent, dedicated flights to AlUla is just the beginning of how we plan to improve accessibility and convenience for our customers. Through this partnership, we are committed to delivering a seamless travel experience that starts from the moment a traveller books their trip with us. 

By joining forces, we are not only promoting an exceptional destination that is a jewel in the Saudi tourism crown, but also cultivating an enriching journey that allows visitors to immerse themselves fully in the cultural and historical richness of AlUla. Our goal is to ensure that every journey to AlUla is memorable, comfortable, and filled with opportunities to explore and learn."

Melanie de Souza, Executive Director, Destination Marketing at Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), remarked, "Our collaboration with Saudia Holidays represents a significant commitment to not only enhancing AlUla's presence as a leading tourist destination but also to ensuring that each visit is transformative for our guests. 

By integrating our marketing efforts with Saudia’s extensive reach, we aim to bring AlUla closer to Saudi residents and international travellers alike, making it a year-round destination that offers both the wonders of its ancient heritage and the comforts of modern hospitality. This partnership will help us achieve a delicate balance between promoting tourism and preserving the unique cultural and environmental aspects of AlUla."

The partnership also includes extensive co-branded digital marketing campaigns focused within Saudi Arabia, special promotions through Saudia’s Alfursan loyalty program, and educational programs for staff to deepen their knowledge of AlUla’s offerings. As part of the agreement, a dedicated landing page featuring 3-4 themed travel packages to AlUla will be created, aimed at providing opportunities for education, cultural enrichment, and economic empowerment for visitors.

The partnership with Saudia supports AlUla's first-ever global marketing campaign, 'Forever Revitalising,' which launched on 29 February and will continue through the end of the year across nine countries in six languages. The planned activity aims to contribute to enhancing the global perception of AlUla through innovative marketing strategies and comprehensive travel packages.