Tourism & Aviation
Tourism and aviation news — covering travel technology, airline updates, Saudi tourism developments, and hospitality innovations in the Kingdom and the region.
IATA Safety Report 2025: Aviation Fatalities Rise to 394 as Sector Maintains Strong Overall Record
IATA’s 2025 safety report recorded 394 onboard fatalities and 51 total accidents across 38.7 million flights, with GPS spoofing incidents surging 193% year-on-year.
PLD Space Closes €180M Series C Led by Mitsubishi Electric to Scale Global Launch Operations
PLD Space closed a €180 million Series C round led by Mitsubishi Electric, bringing total funding past €350 million as the company targets 30 launches per year by 2030.
Etihad Cargo 2025 Performance Shows 9% Volume Growth and 8% Revenue Rise
Etihad Cargo reported 9% volume growth and 8% revenue increase in 2025, transporting 703,000 leg tonnes with AED 4.5 billion in revenue.
DHL Express and LODD Sign MoU to Integrate Hili Unmanned Aircraft into Deliveries
DHL Express and LODD signed a MoU to explore Hili drone integration in UAE deliveries. Joint workshops will define routes and use cases for unmanned operations.
Radisson Hotel Madinah Opens with Tourism Development Fund Support
Radisson Hotel Madinah officially opened on February 18, 2026, backed by the Tourism Development Fund. The four-star, 165-room property sits near Quba Mosque in Madinah.
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Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah Prepares for Ramadan 2026 with Enhanced Services
Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah implements comprehensive operational plan for Ramadan 2026, enhancing staff across departments and preparing specialized Iftar and Suhoor menus.
Cultural Integration Hospitality Operations Boost Revenue by 5%, Arthur D. Little Study Shows
Arthur D. Little study reveals culturally integrated hotels achieve 5% higher occupancy rates and superior guest satisfaction scores, with cultural tourism now representing 40% of global tourism revenues.
Syria Ministry of Tourism Signs Digital Transformation Agreement with Saudi Elm
Syria’s Ministry of Tourism has signed a technical cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Elm to accelerate digital transformation and implement data governance standards across the tourism sector.
Rixos Murjana Resort Opens in King Abdullah Economic City as Saudi Arabia’s Largest All-Inclusive Destination
Rixos Murjana resort opened in King Abdullah Economic City as Saudi Arabia’s largest all-inclusive destination, featuring 488 rooms, 33 villas, and the first fully integrated hotel waterpark in the Kingdom.
Red Sea Becomes First Destination to Receive Forbes Travel Guide Comprehensive Accreditation
The Red Sea became the first destination worldwide to receive comprehensive Forbes Travel Guide accreditation, covering all guest journey stages from reservations to experiences.
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Tourism Development Fund Signs MoU with Palladium Hotel Group to Boost Saudi Tourism
Tourism Development Fund signs strategic MoU with Palladium Hotel Group to explore hospitality development opportunities in Jeddah and Yanbu, advancing Saudi Vision 2030.
DAN Signs Strategic Tourism and Agriculture MoUs at PIF Private Sector Forum 2026
DAN signs two strategic MoUs with DRB Arabia and Fresh On Table at PIF Private Sector Forum 2026, advancing agritourism and farm-to-table initiatives in Saudi Arabia.
RCU and ASICS Arabia Sign MoU to Advance AlUla’s Integrated Sports Ecosystem
RCU and ASICS Arabia formalize strategic partnership to develop AlUla’s integrated sports ecosystem, focusing on talent development, community engagement, and global sporting excellence.
Boeing at WDS 2026: Strengthening the “Family of Systems” and Saudi Localization
Exclusive coverage of the Boeing roundtable at WDS 2026. Insights on F-15EX, MQ-28 Ghost Bat, and Boeing’s commitment to Saudi Vision 2030 localization featuring Zamil Safwan.
AutoFlight Unveils World’s First 5-Ton Electric Vertical Take-Off Aircraft Matrix
AutoFlight unveils Matrix, the world’s first 5-ton class eVTOL aircraft, successfully completing full transition flight with 10-passenger capacity and 1,500 km range.
Riyadh Air and Mastercard Launch Strategic Partnership to Transform Global Travel Experience
Riyadh Air and Mastercard unveil strategic partnership introducing airline-branded credit cards, virtual B2B payment solutions, and joint innovation center to transform global travel experience.
Black Eagles Aerobatic Team to Showcase Precision Flight at World Defense Show 2026
The Black Eagles Aerobatic Team of the Republic of Korea Air Force will perform at World Defense Show 2026, featuring eight T-50B supersonic aircraft in precision aerial displays.
DZYNE’s ULTRA Turbo UAS Achieves Historic 60-Hour Flight Endurance Record
DZYNE Technologies’ ULTRA Turbo UAS sets new Group 5 unmanned aircraft endurance record with 60-hour flight at 25,000 feet, revolutionizing persistent surveillance capabilities.
Singapore Airlines Launches Direct Flights to Riyadh Starting June 2026
Singapore Airlines will launch four-times weekly non-stop flights between Singapore and Riyadh starting June 2026, operating Airbus A350-900 aircraft with 303 seats.
Tourism Development Fund Signs Two MoUs to Enable High-Quality Tourism Projects in King Abdullah Economic City
Tourism Development Fund signs two strategic MoUs to accelerate high-quality tourism development in King Abdullah Economic City, strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading Red Sea destination.
Historic Jeddah Celebrates Maritime Heritage with Red Sea Museum Launch
Jeddah’s historic waterfront welcomes the newly restored Red Sea Museum, showcasing maritime heritage through rare exhibits of navigation, trade, and pilgrimage journeys.
Sofitel Riyadh Hotel Opens as Largest Luxury Conference Center in Saudi Capital
Sofitel opens its first Riyadh property with 388 luxury rooms and the city’s largest conference center. The French hospitality brand brings Parisian elegance to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic capital.