ArabWeeks

AVIAREPS, the global leader and expert in growing and developing outbound tourism, aviation and hospitality demand, with a portfolio of more than 100 airlines and 250 travel and tourism clients worldwide, successfully relaunched its in-person AVIAREPS Middle East Travel Caravan after a 2-year hiatus following the Covid pandemic. Over 110 key travel industry professionals, media and travel influencers attended the Dubai leg of the event which was held on October 11^th, 2022 at the Shangri-la Dubai Hotel, with the same number of visitors expected for the Riyadh event on October 12^th, 2022.

The travel roadshow sees key international travel brands and destinations gather under the one roof to meet with the UAE’s and Saudi Arabia’s key outbound travel agencies and meeting and conferencing professionals, to meet one to one to develop new travel packages, itineraries and events tailored for UAE and Saudi Arabia-based travellers.

A total of 27 key international partners joined the 2022 edition of the AVIAREPS Caravan including Qatar Tourism Board, The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Malta Tourism Authority, The Royal Commission for AlUla, Visit California, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and a host of international hospitality brands, airlines and destination management companies. In addition to meeting leading travel agencies, partners also had the opportunity to meet with popular travel influencers from the region, as well as join an intimate panel discussion industry thought leaders, that included representatives from Emirates Holidays, ITL World and Al Rostamani Travel, where they were updated on the latest travel trends and consumer travel requirements from the region.

Glenn Johnston, Vice President Middle East & Global Public Affairs, AVIAREPS commented: “As we head towards a post pandemic world outbound international travel from the Gulf Countries continues to demonstrate a remarkably strong and quick return compared to all other major travel regions around the globe. Within this context it is extremely important and timely to hold such an event. By bringing the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s travel professionals directly in contact with such an exciting and eclectic mix of travel providers and destinations, I’m confident we will all see jointly crafted, attractive travel experiences and offerings to follow, that will no doubt create new travel trends for the coming months and 2023.”

Not only do travellers from the Gulf countries tend to travel more often than others, but they also tend to stay longer and have one of the world’s highest average-daily-spends while travelling. The luxury travel segment is particularly strong, as too is MICE travel, providing a multitude of opportunities for entities seeking to diversify their client mix.

Johnston added; “This year’s edition of the AVIAREPS Middle East Travel Caravancomes on the healsof Dubai EXPO 2020, which successfully concluded earlier this year. Many of this year’s caravan participants have decided to use this platform to continue the positive and productive momentum created during EXPO, and use it further strengthen their presence in the Middle East market. Personal networks and ongoing connections remain an essential ingredient for business success within our region. A key focus for us is to ensure that through our well-established industry networks both co-participants and our carefully selected Middle Eastern outbound partners see a return on their investment and a growth in their business. That is our commitment to these events.”

The 2022 Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference is set to take place on Wednesday 7 September in Riyadh that focuses on “The Institutionalisation of Investment and Finance”, held under the patronage of H.E. Mr Mohammed Al-Jadaan, the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in the presence of a group of senior industry leaders and experts in the financial sector at a local and international level.

Set to be the first in-person Euromoney Saudi Arabia Conference held since 2019, the event has been launched as a timely platform — in light of the Kingdom’s growth as a burgeoning investment hub — to explore the latest trends in regional and global financial markets. The conference will provide local, as well as international, leaders and experts an opportunity to network and map out the Kingdom’s road to recovery in the wake of COVID-19.   

Focused on “The Institutionalisation of Investment and Finance”, the event will bring Saudi and international industry experts, thought leaders, and policy makers together to discuss six main topics. These include: “Saudi Arabia’s economy in the context of the global macro-outlook”, “ESG and climate change”, “Does ESG matter in Saudi?”, “The institutionalisation of the real estate market – housing, logistics, tourism, hospitality and revitalisation of REITS”, “The digitalisation of financial services”, and “The development of venture capital in the Kingdom”.

On this occasion, Victoria Behn, Commercial Director at Euromoney Conferences said: “The title of this conference is ‘The Institutionalisation of Investment and Finance’ and at Euromoney we have always been strong believers that Saudi Arabia can and should play a leading role in the international capital and investment markets. We are honored to be back in Riyadh at this pivotal time to discuss Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to develop a truly new economic paradigm for the region.”

Over the course of the day, a range of keynote interviews will also be conducted, including sit-downs with H.E. Mr Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipality, Rural Affairs and Housing, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Renée McGowan, President, Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA), Mercer; H.E. Mr Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, Chairman, Capital Market Authority (CMA) and Justin Urquhart-Stewart, Co-Founder, Ambassador and Adviser, Seven Investment Management.

The Lead Sponsors of the conference are: Citi, Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development, Gulf International Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Tadawul Group, Standard Chartered and The Financial Academy. Capital Market Authority is the Supporting Body. Colliers will serve as a Lead Sponsor & Real Estate Advisory. 

The conference’s Co-Sponsors are Alkhair Capital, BLOMInvest, HSBC, KAMCO Invest, Mercer and Saudi Real Estate Company. Knight Frank has been announced as the event’s knowledge partner, Derayah Financial is an associate sponsor and Argaam as its digital sponsor. Sidra Capital will serve as an exhibitor and BCA Research as a Research Partner

For more information, to view the agenda, and to apply for your place, please visit the Euromoney Conferences website. 

The event is a first for IRECMS in KSA and highlights KAFD’s expertise in serving the global real estate industry

King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the region’s prime destination for business and a cosmopolitan lifestyle, today announced that on September 1^st it will host a knowledge-sharing real estate masterclass in partnership with IRECMS. IRECMS is a global event series, organised by Plan3Media Event Management and is committed to lifting the benchmark of community, facilities, property and asset management across the world. IRECMS Masterclass Riyadh is the organization’s first foray into the promising KSA market and serves as a launchpad for larger events in the future. The masterclass program will be led by three international industry speakers and will be attended by senior management from the real estate industry throughout the Kingdom and the broader region. 

“IRECMS Masterclass Riyadh is a unique opportunity for real estate professionals to learn from global experts and create powerful international peer networks,” said Gautam Sashittal, KAFD CEO. “We at KAFD are honored to host the first-ever masterclass in Riyadh and view this collaboration with IRECMS as the natural outcome of a shared interest in serving the real estate sector, both here in the Kingdom and around the world.” 

“We believe that KSA is a promising region which will see rapid growth in real estate management. Launching IRECMS in KSA is our endeavor to facilitate this growth,” said Harsha Agrawal, Event Director for IRECMS.

Launched in 2019, IRECMS has been held in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dubai and Madrid. In addition to the upcoming event in Riyadh, in 2022 IRECMS will be held in Bahrain, Mumbai, Milan and Dubai. For more information, visit https://irecms.com/dubai.

Owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), KAFD is the region’s new destination for business, leisure and residence. A landmark project set on more than 3 million square meters of land in the heart of the capital, KAFD is home to 1.6 million square meters of state-of-the-art office space, world-class entertainment venues and iconic luxury residences. Offering a competitive ecosystem of vibrant lifestyle experiences powered by differentiated customer service, KAFD invites citizens of the world to envision, accelerate and live

Over one million low fare seats on 20 routes launched from Europe to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam to support Vision 2030

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most sustainable airline, is launching 20 exciting new routes from Bucharest, Budapest, Catania, Larnaca, Milan, Naples, Rome, Sofia, Tirana, Venice and Vienna to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The airline introduces a new era of extended travel opportunities at ultra-low fares between Europe and the Kingdom to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s global connectivity.  Tickets for all routes are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from 54.99 €.*

The new routes will majorly enhance Wizz Air’s presence in the Kingdom that will boost the growing Saudi Arabian tourism sector and contribute to the Vision 2030 programme to triple the country’s passenger traffic by 2030. Just alone this expansion will bring over one million additional travellers to Saudi Arabia next year. 

Jozsef Varadi, CEO of Wizz Air, said: “Saudi Arabia is one of the most exciting countries in the world for aviation portraying an eclectic mix of travel opportunities with unmissable destinations, countless exciting attractions, and a thriving cultural scene. Today’s announcement follows the Memorandum of Understanding we recently signed with the government enabling us to contribute to Saudi tourism’s growth and its entire ecosystem.  Not only does Wizz Air offer incredibly low fares to travellers given our operational efficiency, but we also fly one the youngest, most modern, and sustainable fleet of aircraft in the world. I see the Kingdom as a long-term strategic market for Wizz Air where we will continue to innovate and carry the flag of low cost flying for the benefit of Saudi residents and visitors as well as the country’s diversifying economy.” 

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and Member of the Board at Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “Today’s announcement of 20 new routes to Saudi is one of the largest such announcements anywhere in the world. It is a real first for Wizz Air and for Saudi, and opens a new and affordable gateway for visitors from Europe that will allow everyone to come and explore the world’s most exciting new destination. This is already an exceptional partnership and today is just the start.We are making it easier than ever to get to Saudi and are confident that increased travel options and competitiveness will expand consumer choice and drive down costs.”

Khalil Lamrabet, CEO of The Air Connectivity Program, said: “We are pleased to have been able to work with Wizz Air to grow its network to Saudi Arabia; the announced routes are a testament to the strong traffic potential that the Kingdom has to offer. We look forward to welcoming these new flights into the Kingdom’s expanding network and to working with Wizz Air to explore other route opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”

Mohammed Ahmed Almowkley, CEO of Matarat, said: “We at Matarat are working with our partners and airline companies to provide an attractive environment at Saudi airports for airlines and passengers to offer better choices with high-quality services, and this work is an extension to the previous announcement with Wizz Air to operate direct flights from King Fahd International Airport to three diverse international destinations. Matarat will continue on this path to achieve the National Aviation Strategy objectives which are part of the Saudi 2030 vision.”

Wizz Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Investment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MoU is a Ministry of Tourism initiative, aimed to enhance the development of the Saudi Tourism Sector. It reflects a shared vision between the parties on the potential Wizz Air could bring to the Kingdom to stimulate tourist demand, thereby making a significant contribution to Saudi Arabia’s planned growth.

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the removal of PCR test requirements for vaccinated travellers has made travel simpler again, allowing for more spontaneous trips abroad.

For ultimate peace of mind during this uncertain time, passengers can book tickets with confidence, thanks to WIZZ Flex. With WIZZ Flex, passengers can cancel their flight up to three hours before departure without any fee and receive 100% of the fare immediately reimbursed in airline credit.

Indian Ocean iconoclast Siyam World has unleashed a new fleet of custom Mini Mokes; adrenaline-pumping Seabreachers; and “the world’s first water bike”, Manta5’s Hydrofoiler XE-1, providing guests with three more eyepopping ways to motor away from the Maldives mainstream.

On a mission to bring its guests the broadest offering of memorable escapades and never-done-before experiences, Siyam World made waves last year when it opened with the Indian Ocean’s biggest floating water park – and now it has rivals trailing in its wake once again after launching the Maldives’ first ever Seabreacher. With the aerodynamic lines of a fighter jet and a sculpted shark-like body, the Seabreacher represents a dramatic breakthrough in recreational boating. Operating more like an aircraft than a watercraft, these extraordinary semisubmersible vessels can jump over, dive under and carve left and right through the waves – and are even capable of 360-degree barrel rolls on the water. The Seabreacher’s acrylic canopy and underwater view ports give pilot and passenger near-360-degree views, while its supercharged 260hp engine propels them across the water at speeds of up to 50mph. 

For a more tranquil, yet singularly surreal take on conquering the waves, Siyam World guests can also experience the extraordinary Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 – the world’s first hydrofoil e-bikes. Capable of speeds up to 11 knots, these emission-free, wake-free, near-silent wave-riding phenomena harness the same technology as America’s Cup yachts to create a completely new cycling experience on water.

Back on dry land, guests staying at The Beach House Collection – Siyam World’s exclusive enclave of 24 show-stopping one- to six-bedroom Residences – can also now explore the island’s trails in style with their very own custom Mini Moke. Recently revived and relaunched as the first heritage car marque to go fully electric, the British-made Mini Moke is the ultimate retro-chic beach whip. Each of Siyam World’s Mini Mokes comes with an onboard sound system and is named after a colourful 90s music legend – think “Green Day”, “Red Hot Chilli Peppers” and “Pink Floyd” – with a vibrant paintjob to match.

Siyam World is an unapologetically quirky, all-embracing five-star all-inclusive island destination that transcends cultures and borders to offer guests an ever-expanding array of ‘never-seen-before’ experiences – from the Indian Ocean’s biggest floating water park to the Maldives’ first resort horse ranch. The natural 54-hectare island resort boasts an enticing variety of 19 accommodation categories ranging from 89 to 3,000 square metres, from lush Pool Beach Villas, expansive Beach Suites and breath-taking Beach Residences to playful overwater Villas complete with irresistible water slides. An exclusive enclave, The Beach House Collection, also features stunning Grand Water Pavilions and the magnificent Palace. All accommodation types overlook the pristine Maldivian waters, come with direct access to the ocean and feature generously proportioned indoor and outdoor living spaces with private pools.

Siyam World offers Seabreacher experiences from USD400++ per person (20 minutes) and Manta5 Hydrofoiler rental from USD130++ per person (20 minutes). Mini Moke rental is complimentary for The Beach House Collection guests. For more information, visit Siyam World or follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or YouTube. For booking enquires email: stay@siyamworld.com.