Tourism & Aviation
Tourism and aviation news — covering travel technology, airline updates, Saudi tourism developments, and hospitality innovations in the Kingdom and the region.
Rowad Modern Engineering Begins SAL Logistics Project Expansion at King Khalid International Airport
Rowad Modern Engineering has started the SAL logistics project expansion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, targeting LEED Gold certification and supporting Saudi Vision 2030 logistics goals.
Dhahran Mall Ramadan Programme Unites Community Through Heritage, Charity, and Spiritual Milestones
Dhahran Mall’s Ramadan 1446H programme featured a first-of-its-kind Athan broadcast by Qur’an students, Girgian celebrations, and 100 food basket donations across the Eastern Province.
IATA Launches DG Digital to Fully Automate Dangerous Goods Shipment Declarations
IATA launched DG Digital on March 16, 2026, to fully automate dangerous goods shipment declarations within its DG AutoCheck platform. Pilot tests in Japan cut rejection rates from 4.5% to 0.5%.
IATA Outlines Three Air Cargo Priorities at World Cargo Symposium 2026
IATA outlined three air cargo priorities at the World Cargo Symposium 2026 in Lima: digital transformation, global standards, and safety. Airlines representing over 70% of airway bill volume are implementing the One Record data standard.
Air Cargo Trade Supported $157 Billion in US Pre-Loading and Carried Over Two-Thirds of AI Goods in 2025
IATA’s March 2026 report shows air cargo enabled $157 billion in pre-tariff US imports in Q1 2025 and transported over two-thirds of global AI-related goods during the year.
Grand Mosque Installs 15 Interactive Signs in Smart Guidance Initiative for Umrah Visitors
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque has installed 15 interactive signs as part of a smart guidance initiative. The signs use color-coding and QR codes to help Umrah visitors navigate the mosque.
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UAE Staycation Eid Demand Rises as Wego Reports Hotel Search Surge
Wego reports a surge in domestic hotel searches ahead of Eid Al-Fitr, with UAE residents increasingly choosing staycations at luxury resorts in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
HAVELSAN Breaks Ground on 17,000 sq m Flight Simulator Production Center in Ankara
HAVELSAN has broken ground on a 17,000 sq m flight simulator production facility in Ankara, targeting output of more than 30 simulators annually by 2027.
Ambassadori Island Batumi and Arup Unveil Smart City Vision at MIPIM 2026
Ambassadori Island Batumi presented its 84-hectare smart city masterplan at MIPIM 2026 in Cannes, developed in collaboration with engineering firm Arup. The Black Sea project includes a 58-floor residential tower and targets international investors.
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.
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.
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.