
Air Arabia to launch low-cost Saudi airline
According to a statement posted on X, the new carrier aims to strengthen air connectivity in the Eastern Region, boost seat capacity, and offer competitive travel options. The airline will operate both domestic and international routes, targeting 57 international and 24 domestic destinations by 2030.
To achieve the goals of the Aviation Program under the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, #GACA announces that «AirArabia Alliance» has won as the new low-cost national carrier at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, with the aim of enhancing air connectivity in the… pic.twitter.com/8IRyOb2yD5
— هيئة الطيران المدني (@ksagaca) July 20, 2025
The airline plans to carry up to 10 million passengers annually with a fleet of 45 aircraft, and is expected to create more than 2,400 job opportunities.
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh Al-Jasser, welcomed the move, stating the new airline will 'contribute to enhancing competition' and expand choices for travelers.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Broadcast Pro
20 minutes ago
- Broadcast Pro
MBC Group partners with Netflix to offer unified streaming experience in MENA
The newly created bundle will combine Netflix and Shahid in addition to MBC's linear TV channels, under one single subscription. MBC Group has announced a partnership with global streaming giant Netflix, marking the first collaboration of its kind for Netflix in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This alliance will see Netflix's full streaming service integrated into MBCNOW, the recently launched content aggregator platform by MBC Group, offering users a seamless entertainment experience. The new subscription bundle merges Netflix with Shahid, MBC's Arabic streaming platform, and the Group's array of linear TV channels into a single, convenient package. This offering brings together two major streaming platforms under one roof for the first time in the region, promising to deliver a mix of content that appeals to families across Saudi Arabia, the Gulf and the broader Arab world. Fadel Zahreddine, Group Director of Emerging Media at MBC Group, said: 'This groundbreaking partnership is one for the books. To have two streaming giants – Shahid and Netflix – come together under one platform is something never seen before in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and wider MENA, and we're very excited for what's to come.' Bhanu Chaddha, Director of Distribution and TV Products at MBC Group, added: 'We're thrilled to have MBC Group join forces with Netflix to bring its content to our audiences under the convenience of a single subscription. This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to provide unparalleled global and local experiences for our audiences in the region. This is definitely the future of streaming and content consumption.' Mohammed Al Kuraishi, Head of Business Development and Partnerships, Middle East and Africa at Netflix stated: 'We are delighted to partner with MBC Group to bring our members in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region easy access to our service and an incredible variety of international and Arabic shows, movies, documentaries, kids content, stand-ups, Live- events, and games. This partnership brings unparalleled entertainment offering to our members and puts them at the heart of the entertainment experience.' Launched in February 2025, MBCNOW was developed to blend traditional broadcast viewing with digital streaming. It consolidates MBC's TV channels and Shahid's Arabic content into a single destination, transforming how Saudi and Arab audiences consume entertainment. With the new Netflix partnership, MBCNOW now offers a bundled 'Shahid + Netflix Pack,' delivering a vast catalogue of Arabic and international series, films, documentaries, children's content, live events and even games. The package offers more than 21% in savings compared to subscribing to the services individually.


Zawya
20 minutes ago
- Zawya
Emerge and Misk City sign landmark solar agreement to power vision for a green urban future
Project will avoid more than 600 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting LEED green city certification and ParkSmart sustainability certifications contributing to a greener city Emerge to provide full turnkey solution including financing, design, construction, and long-term operations and maintenance Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Emerge, the energy solutions joint venture between Masdar and EDF power solutions, has signed a long-term solar energy agreement with Misk City to deliver sustainable electricity over the next 20 years – marking a milestone in the City's journey to becoming a model of environmental innovation and green urbanism. The signing ceremony was held in Riyadh at Misk City and attended by including David Henry, CEO of Misk City, Omar AlDaweesh, Emerge board member, Michel Abi Saab, General Manager of Emerge, and Samuel Ménard, Economic Counsellor and Anouar Mekkas, Nuclear and Renewable Energy Advisor at the French Embassy in Riyadh. The agreement will see the development of a 621-kilowatt peak (kWp) rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) plant atop a dedicated carport structure and other assets within Misk City, located in the northwest of Riyadh. Once operational, the system is expected to significantly reduce the city's CO₂ footprint, contributing significantly to Misk City's ambition of achieving a higher level of environmental performance through LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and establishing itself as one of the region's most advanced green urban communities. Misk City is the world's first nonprofit city of its kind—a pioneering urban model that reflects the Kingdom's ambition to cultivate knowledge, creativity, and sustainable development in alignment with Vision 2030. Designed to integrate innovation, education, and sustainability, Misk City offers a dynamic, human-centered environment that attracts talent and fosters entrepreneurship and creativity. It serves as a regional hub for education, digital media, culture, and the arts, strategically positioned as a leading platform for both local and international institutions. With sustainability at its core, Misk City is committed to setting new benchmarks in green urbanism. From renewable energy integration and utilizing green schemes, to fostering walkability urban context and smart mobility solutions, the City reflects a holistic approach to an outstanding urban development. Building on a framework agreement signed earlier this year, the partnership reflects both entities' shared commitment to decarbonization, energy innovation, and sustainable urban transformation. Emerge will undertake the full development and delivery of the project, including engineering and design, financing, procurement, construction, operations and maintenance. David Henry, CEO of Misk City, said: 'From the very beginning, Misk City has been envisioned as a forward-looking, sustainable urban community – designed to empower future generations and lead by example in innovation and environmental responsibility. Integrating clean energy into our infrastructure is a natural extension of that vision. This project marks a meaningful step in advancing our sustainability goals, reinforcing our commitment to building a city that thrives in harmony with its environment.' Omar AlDaweesh, Emerge board member and CEO for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, EDF Group and EDF power solutions, said: 'This partnership is a testament to the growing momentum for clean energy adoption in the Kingdom. By supporting Misk City's pioneering sustainability goals, Emerge is proud to be contributing to a new urban narrative, one where innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Emerge's holistic, turnkey model removes complexity and accelerates the transition to clean power for clients across the region.' Ali Alshimmari, Emerge board member and Director, Strategic & Special Projects, Masdar, said: 'At Emerge, every project we deliver is tailored to the unique needs and ambitions of our partner. This agreement with Misk City exemplifies our commitment to supporting clean energy transformation through fully customized energy solutions. By drawing on the global expertise of Masdar and the EDF Group, we ensure world-class quality and innovation at every stage – from design and financing to construction and long-term operations.' Established in 2021, Emerge specializes in delivering solar PV, battery storage, and hybrid energy solutions for businesses of all sizes, from SMEs to large corporations, across both on-grid and off-grid environments. Its innovative solar power agreements empower organizations to host solar facilities at their own sites without any upfront investment, giving them access to reliable, clean electricity while lowering operational costs and carbon emissions. Through this agreement, Misk City will harness one of the Kingdom's most abundant natural resources – solar energy – to power its future, reduce its environmental impact and set a benchmark for sustainable cities across the region. About Emerge Emerge is a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group established to develop solar generation, energy storage and hybrid solutions in the Middle East. We support our business partners in achieving their sustainability goals. A home-grown company, Emerge was founded in 2021 and has since established a robust performance record. Emerge provides clients with comprehensive renewable energy solutions via solar power agreements. Clients do not have to make any initial financial commitments. This empowers our customers to concentrate on their core operations while reducing operational and energy expenditures. Contacts: Website: LinkedIn: About EDF power solutions Bringing together the businesses of EDF Renewables and EDF Group International division, EDF power solutions in an international energy player which develops, builds and operates renewable and low-carbon energy production facilities, as well as flexible power and electricity transmission solutions. As a major player in the energy transition worldwide, EDF power solutions deploys, within EDF, competitive, responsible and value-creating projects. In 25 countries, our teams show their commitment to local stakeholders every day, adding their expertise and capacity for innovation to the fight against climate change. EDF power solutions operates 31GW of gross installed power capacity worldwide. Leveraging on its technological and commercial skills, as well as local knowledge, EDF power solutions develops innovative offers, to support the move towards decarbonization and develop more efficient electrical systems. EDF power solutions offers a large range of technologies to produce low-carbon electricity (wind power, solar, hydraulics, biomass), increase power system flexibility (battery storage, PSHSP, low-carbon thermal hybrid solutions etc.) and to reduce our customers 'carbon footprint (electrical mobility, hydrogen, off-grid). Contacts: For more information: Follow us on LinkedIn For media enquiries, please contact: About Masdar: Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) is one of the world's fastest-growing renewable energy companies. As a global clean energy leader, Masdar is advancing the development and deployment of solar, wind, geothermal, battery storage and green hydrogen technologies to accelerate the energy transformation and help the world meet its net-zero ambitions. Established in 2006, Masdar has developed and invested in projects in over 40 countries with a combined capacity of 51 gigawatts (GW), providing affordable clean energy access to those who need it most and helping to power a more sustainable future. Masdar is jointly owned by TAQA, ADNOC, and Mubadala, and is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030 while aiming to be a leading producer of green hydrogen by the same year. Contacts: For media inquiries, please contact: press@ For more information please visit: and connect: and


Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi expands in Pakistan with more flights to Multan, Faisalabad
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi expanded its operations in Pakistan with increased flight frequencies to two key cities in Pakistan; Faisalabad and Multan. The increase in capacity further strengthens air connectivity between the UAE and Pakistan, reinforcing the airline's commitment to offering affordable, reliable, and convenient travel options to its growing customer base. Flights to Multan have increased from two to five flights per week and will operate daily starting September. Meanwhile, services to Faisalabad have doubled from two to four weekly flights, offering passengers greater convenience and more flexible travel options. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said, "Pakistan remains a key growth market for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi. The increased frequencies to Multan and Faisalabad reflect our commitment to meeting the growing demand for affordable and reliable air travel between the UAE and Pakistan, while providing our customers with greater convenience and enhanced connectivity." In addition to the frequency increases, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi recently launched a new direct route to Sialkot, further expanding its footprint across Pakistan and catering to the growing demand for affordable air travel between the two countries. As part of its broader growth strategy, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi plans to add two more aircraft to its fleet before the end of the year, enhancing its operational capacity and supporting the launch of new routes as it continues to grow its network across key markets. Customers can now book their flights by visiting Air Arabia's website, calling the contact center, or through preferred travel agencies. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi operates a modern fleet of 12 Airbus A320 aircraft, recognised globally as the world's best-selling single-aisle aircraft. Designed to deliver a comfortable and value-driven experience, each aircraft is equipped with SkyTime, Air Arabia's complimentary in-flight streaming service, and SkyCafe, which offers a wide selection of snacks and meals at affordable prices. Passengers can also enjoy the benefits of Air Rewards, the airline's generous loyalty program that allows members to earn, transfer, and redeem points with ease.