Latest news with #Saudi-owned
Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
The next big cruise ship destination is the desert
The crystal ball of cruising is always unclear, but few would gamble on the Middle East becoming the next cruise hotspot. Indeed, you might have predicted its abandonment from the time Houthi rebels started attacking Red Sea shipping in 2023. But the Persian Gulf isn't the Red Sea, and I'd stake money on the Gulf seeing many more cruise ships soon. Gulf states are scrambling to diversify from fossil fuels and looking to tourism. Several nations have invested in cruise infrastructure and created the Cruise Arabia Alliance to promote cruising. The last decade has seen ultramodern cruise terminals mushroom in Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat in Oman, Doha in Qatar, and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the Emirates. Dubai is the major hub with capacity for 14,000 cruise passengers a day and new dry docks for cruise-ship refits. Saudi Arabia is developing its shipbuilding capacity. Italian company Fincantieri, which builds many cruise ships, opened a Saudi subsidiary in early 2024. Saudi-owned Aroya Cruises launched its first ship last December and has plans to add two more. By 2030 Saudi Arabia aims to have 10 ports with cruise terminals and attract 1.3 million cruise passengers a year. For now, Aroya Cruises is focused on the Middle Eastern market, while most passengers on international cruise lines are Europeans fleeing the winter. But given our good flight connections to Gulf cities, we have every reason to join them. Cruising is an attractive option because accommodation and transportation is expensive in the Gulf, particularly on multi-country tours. The weather is very reliable and the Persian Gulf placid.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Isak considers Newcastle exit
LONDON: Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away as the club confirmed he was not part of the squad travelling to Asia for pre-season friendlies. The Daily Mail said on Thursday that Newcastle bosses "are aware of Isak's wish to consider his options this summer." It came hours after the Saudi-owned Premier League club said the 25-year-old forward would miss the Asia tour "with a minor thigh injury." Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season made him one of the world's hottest properties and he has been linked with English champions Liverpool. The Mail said Liverpool were still interested in acquiring the Sweden international despite announcing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday. Ekitike's arrival, for a reported initial fee of £69 million (RM391 million), takes Liverpool's spending during the current transfer window to more than £250 million. Isak still has three years left on his contract at Newcastle, whom he joined in 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad. He was left out of Saturday's 4-0 defeat in a friendly at Celtic. But Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at the time he was "confident" that Isak would stay at St James' Park, adding that he expected him to be part of the Asia tour. "It's difficult for me to give 100 per cent clarity on any player," he said. "I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen. "All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team." Newcastle face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before flying to South Korea, where they will play a K League all-star team and Tottenham. - AFP
Iraqi News
5 days ago
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Isak considers Newcastle exit: report
London – Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away as the club confirmed he was not part of the squad travelling to Asia for pre-season friendlies. The Daily Mail said Thursday that Newcastle bosses 'are aware of Isak's wish to consider his options this summer'. It came hours after the Saudi-owned Premier League club said the 25-year-old forward would miss the Asia tour 'with a minor thigh injury'. Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season made him one of the world's hottest properties and he has been linked with English champions Liverpool. The Mail said Liverpool were still interested in acquiring the Sweden international despite announcing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday. Ekitike's arrival, for a reported initial fee of £69 million ($93 million), takes Liverpool's spending during the current transfer window to more than £250 million. Isak still has three years left on his contract at Newcastle, whom he joined in 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad. He was left out of Saturday's 4-0 defeat in a friendly at Celtic. But Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at the time he was 'confident' that Isak would stay at St James' Park, adding that he expected him to be part of the Asia tour. 'It's difficult for me to give 100 percent clarity on any player,' he said. 'I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen. 'All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team.' Newcastle face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before flying to South Korea, where they will play a K League all-star team and Tottenham.
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Isak considers Newcastle exit: Report - World
Alexander Isak has reportedly told Newcastle he wants to explore a move away as the club confirmed he was not part of the squad travelling to Asia for pre-season friendlies. The Daily Mail said Thursday that Newcastle bosses "are aware of Isak's wish to consider his options this summer". It came hours after the Saudi-owned Premier League club said the 25-year-old forward would miss the Asia tour "with a minor thigh injury". Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season made him one of the world's hottest properties and he has been linked with English champions Liverpool. The Mail said Liverpool were still interested in acquiring the Sweden international despite announcing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday. Ekitike's arrival, for a reported initial fee of £69 million ($93 million), takes Liverpool's spending during the current transfer window to more than £250 million. Isak still has three years left on his contract at Newcastle, whom he joined in 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad. He was left out of Saturday's 4-0 defeat in a friendly at Celtic. But Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at the time he was "confident" that Isak would stay at St James' Park, adding that he expected him to be part of the Asia tour. "It's difficult for me to give 100 percent clarity on any player," he said. "I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen. "All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team." Newcastle face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before flying to South Korea, where they will play a K League all-star team and Tottenham. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
France 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Isak considers Newcastle exit: report
The Daily Mail said Thursday that Newcastle bosses "are aware of Isak's wish to consider his options this summer". It came hours after the Saudi-owned Premier League club said the 25-year-old forward would miss the Asia tour "with a minor thigh injury". Isak's 23 Premier League goals last season made him one of the world's hottest properties and he has been linked with English champions Liverpool. The Mail said Liverpool were still interested in acquiring the Sweden international despite announcing the signing of Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike on Wednesday. Ekitike's arrival, for a reported initial fee of £69 million ($93 million), takes Liverpool's spending during the current transfer window to more than £250 million. Isak still has three years left on his contract at Newcastle, whom he joined in 2022 from Spanish side Real Sociedad. He was left out of Saturday's 4-0 defeat in a friendly at Celtic. But Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said at the time he was "confident" that Isak would stay at St James' Park, adding that he expected him to be part of the Asia tour. "It's difficult for me to give 100 percent clarity on any player," he said. "I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what could happen. "All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team." Newcastle face Arsenal in Singapore on Sunday before flying to South Korea, where they will play a K League all-star team and Tottenham.
