Tourism & Aviation
Tourism and aviation news — covering travel technology, airline updates, Saudi tourism developments, and hospitality innovations in the Kingdom and the region.
EDECS and MEDLOG Sign Contract for 189,000 sqm Dry Port in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City
EDECS and MEDLOG signed a contract on April 8, 2026, to build a 189,000 sqm dry port in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City. The EPC project marks MEDLOG’s first dry port development in Egypt.
Almosafer Becomes First Saudi App on ChatGPT Platform, Offering AI-Powered Travel Planning
Almosafer has launched on the ChatGPT platform, becoming the first Saudi app to offer travel services through OpenAI’s AI interface. Users can now search over 1.5 million hotels via natural conversation in Arabic and English.
IATA Proofs of Concept Show Contactless Travel Is Ready for Global Rollout
IATA published results from digital identity Proofs of Concept showing that contactless travel using biometrics and mobile wallets is technically ready. The tests spanned airlines and airports across Europe and Asia-Pacific.
WINGIE Smart Refund Technology Cuts Airline Refund Wait Times with AI
WINGIE has launched an AI-powered refund system that lets passengers manage airline refund requests digitally, reporting a fivefold increase in operational efficiency after rollout.
elm Presents Umrah Digital Solutions at Madinah Forum 2026
elm participated as a strategic sponsor of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum 2026 in Madinah, presenting a portfolio of digital solutions covering pilgrim services, AI-powered guidance, and crowd management.
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Careem Ramadan Trends 2026: Grocery Orders Triple at Suhoor, Bike Riders Cut 40 Tons of CO2
Careem released Ramadan 2026 usage data showing grocery orders tripled at Suhoor, one DineOut user saved SAR 2,388, and Medina bike riders removed 40.76 tons of CO2.
Trip.com Partners with Checkout.com to Streamline Global Travel Payments
Trip.com and Checkout.com have formed a strategic partnership to improve digital payment performance across Saudi Arabia, Japan, the UK, and North America. The deal targets faster transactions and higher acceptance rates for global travelers.
Edge Riyadh Al Rabie Names Kozhaya Tannous as Cluster General Manager
Edge Riyadh Al Rabie by Rotana has appointed Kozhaya Tannous as Cluster General Manager, bringing over 20 years of regional hospitality experience to the role as the brand expands across Saudi Arabia.
DP World Jeddah Adds Three Quay Cranes to Boost Red Sea Trade Capacity
DP World Jeddah has added three semi-automated quay cranes at Jeddah Islamic Port, part of an $800 million modernisation programme targeting 5 million TEUs in future capacity.
Eid Al-Fitr Travel Demand Rises in Saudi Arabia as Jeddah, AlUla, and Abha Lead Domestic Destinations
Booking data shows a notable rise in domestic travel demand across Saudi Arabia for Eid Al-Fitr 2026, with Jeddah, AlUla, and Abha emerging as top destinations. Hotel prices start from SAR 513.75 per night.
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- Wego Releases Optimised Travel App for iPhone Duo
- Knowledge Economic City and BAAN Holding Sign Lease for Level 48 at Multaqa AlMadinah Mall
IATA Forecasts Air Travel Demand to More Than Double by 2050
IATA projects global air travel demand to exceed 20.8 trillion RPKs by 2050, more than doubling from 2024 levels under its medium growth scenario.
SalamAir Signs eSIM and e-Visa Partnership with UK-Based Arcube
SalamAir has partnered with UK-based Arcube to offer eSIM and e-Visa services to passengers, expanding its digital travel offerings beyond the flight.
Fairmont Riyadh Hosts Female Leadership Panel on International Women’s Day
Fairmont Riyadh hosted a female leadership panel on March 8, 2026, in collaboration with Alnahda Society, Art of Heritage, and Saut: The Voice of Down Syndrome Society. The event featured three prominent Saudi women leaders discussing entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and community advocacy.
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.
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.