The emerging Saudi tourist hotspot of AlUla has received a big boost from its neighbour, the UAE, after Flydubai announced the launch of flights to the historic destination.
Flydubai will become the first UAE carrier to operate flights from Dubai to AlUla as the north-west Saudi region continues to attract more visitors.
The carrier said it will also resume its operations to Yanbu growing its network in the kingdom to six points including Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh.
Flights to Yanbu International Airport, also known as Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport, start on February 26 with a three times weekly service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Flights to Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport in AlUla will start on March 2 and will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB).
Hamad Obaidalla, CEO at Flydubai, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer passengers from the UAE and our network the opportunity to visit and explore one of the world’s most beautiful and untouched destinations.
“We are also looking forward to the resumption of our operations to Yanbu in the Al Madinah Province. Flydubai is dedicated to further strengthening the cultural, trade and tourism ties between our two countries by making travel more accessible.”
National and international investors are being invited to be part of the 15-year transformation of AlUla.
The inaugural masterplan for the development of the site in the north-west region of the kingdom, named The Journey Through Time Masterplan, was unveiled last year.
Conceived as a living museum, the plan includes 15 new cultural assets, a 9km rejuvenated cultural oasis, ten million square metres of green and open spaces and a 46km low-carbon tramway, while contributing to AlUla’s hospitality offer with 5,000 additional hotel keys.
Once complete, it is anticipated that the development will have helped grow the population of AlUla to 130,000 and create 38,000 jobs, while contributing SR120 billion ($32bn) to the kingdom’s GDP. It is expected to attract two million visitors annually, offering 9,400 hotel keys in total.
Under the plan, five unique districts will be connected by a 20km-long public realm called the Wadi of Hospitality, which will protect 200,000 years of natural and human history across the 20km-long core historical area of AlUla, encompassing a wadi and culminating in the Nabataean city of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 15-year programme has been split into three sections, with the first scheduled for completion in 2023, the second in 2030, and the entire project to be delivered in 2035.
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