Wizz Air announces new London Gatwick-Jeddah route

Andras Rado, head of communications and government affairs, Wizz Air, and Kimmo Ruotsalainen, general manager of aviation business development, Jeddah Airports Company.
Andras Rado, head of communications and government affairs, Wizz Air, and Kimmo Ruotsalainen, general manager of aviation business development, Jeddah Airports Company.
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Updated 15 September 2024
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Wizz Air announces new London Gatwick-Jeddah route

Wizz Air announces new London Gatwick-Jeddah route

Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest-growing and most environmentally sustainable airline, has launched a new direct route between London Gatwick and Jeddah, starting on March 31, 2025. This new route underscores Wizz Air’s dedication to expanding its presence in Saudi Arabia, offering travelers more options and affordable fares. Tickets are now available on wizzair.com and the Wizz Air app, with prices starting from $116.99.
Wizz Air’s new London Gatwick to Jeddah route will operate daily all year round, connecting two vibrant cities. This strategic addition to Wizz Air’s network highlights the airline’s commitment to providing affordable and accessible travel options while strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK.

HIGHLIGHT

Over the past three years, Wizz Air has significantly increased its capacity in Saudi Arabia, introducing numerous new routes and enhancing travel options.

Over the past three years, Wizz Air has significantly increased its capacity in Saudi Arabia, introducing numerous new routes and enhancing travel options, while contributing to the country’s connectivity in line with Vision 2030 and following a partnership agreement with Saudi Tourism Authority to increase connectivity to Europe and boost inbound visitors.




Andras Rado, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, Wizz Air


This route is one of many offerings that will leverage the Airbus A321XLR’s extended range and efficiency, revolutionizing intercontinental travel and making it more accessible than ever before.
“The Airbus A321XLR is the most cost-efficient aircraft of its class and, given the enhanced range capability, it enables Wizz Air to connect the furthest destinations in its network and further expand it, connecting cultures and continents. We’re excited to unlock unbeatable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London, while offering the most sustainable option for flying,” said Andras Rado, head of communications and government affairs, Wizz Air, during a press conference in Jeddah. “We are already flying several 5-6 hour long ultra-low-cost routes with great satisfaction to our customers, and the XLR (extra-long range) will extend our outstanding value proposition to 7–8-hour long flights.”

We’re excited to unlock unbeatable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London.

Andras Rado, Head of Communications and Government Affairs, Wizz Air

The new aircraft type, a first in the region, is the most cost-effective in its class, more sustainable due to less fuel burn and designed to operate intercontinental flights of up to 7-8 hours, revolutionizing the long-haul travel market.
“We as an airport are delighted to offer affordable fares for our customers on the newly announced route to London Gatwick while providing the Wizz Air’s new route as an option for traveling to the UK,” said Kimmo Ruotsalainen, general manager of aviation business development, Jeddah Airports Company.
Wizz Air’s investment in Saudi Arabia includes the use of modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, contributing to more sustainable travel. The airline’s carbon intensity is estimated to be at least 30 percent lower than that of other carriers on the same routes, aligning with Wizz Air’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
Since entering the Saudi market, Wizz Air has created more than 1,500 job opportunities in the associated industries.

 


OSUS invests over SAR 2 billion in flagship "OSUS EYE" Project to transform urban living in Riyadh

OSUS invests over SAR 2 billion in flagship
Updated 25 May 2025
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OSUS invests over SAR 2 billion in flagship "OSUS EYE" Project to transform urban living in Riyadh

OSUS invests over SAR 2 billion in flagship "OSUS EYE" Project to transform urban living in Riyadh

OSUS Real Estate Development Company has officially launched its flagship project “OSUS EYE” — a fully integrated urban destination that brings together elegant residences with contemporary luxury, a world-class Hilton Garden Inn hotel, branded residences tower under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand, premium-grade offices, and retail spaces. Strategically located at the intersection of Takhassusi Road and Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Road in northern Riyadh, the SR2-billion ($533 million) project extends over gross floor area exceeding 180,000 square meters, embodying the concept of a 10-minute city aligned with the ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. 

The development features 627 residential units, including apartments and townhouses, designed with modern architectural aesthetics across a dedicated residential area of 82,370 square meters. Additionally, the project allocates 46,854 square meters for commercial offices and retail, offering a contemporary business environment that supports entrepreneurship and investment. To meet the needs of residents and visitors, the project includes multi-story parking facilities totaling 155,400 square meters, ensuring ease of mobility and smooth traffic flow. 

“OSUS EYE” is also home to a variety of recreational amenities, including lush green parks spanning 62,893 square meters, dining venues, cafes, and pedestrian and cycling paths — delivering a comprehensive urban experience that enhances the quality of life in the capital. 

With this project, OSUS reaffirms its commitment to developing sustainable destinations and pioneering smart urban concepts that elevate living, working, and leisure experiences. 

Founded in Riyadh in 2006, OSUS has established itself as a leading real estate developer, delivering high-impact projects across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. The company has developed a robust portfolio of 54 projects, including vibrant residential neighborhoods, modern office spaces, and urban landmarks that contribute to the transformation of Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector, underscoring its clear strategic vision and excellence in execution. 


SAS showcases future of AI-powered policing

SAS showcases future of AI-powered policing
Updated 24 May 2025
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SAS showcases future of AI-powered policing

SAS showcases future of AI-powered policing

SAS, a global leader in data and AI, demonstrated its transformative capabilities for modern law enforcement and public safety at the World Police Summit 2025, held in Dubai from May 13–15. At the event, SAS highlighted how data-driven intelligence is enabling safer cities, smarter policing, and greater public trust through solutions in AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics.

The SAS booth featured immersive, real-time demonstrations of its latest innovations, including autonomous AI agents, digital twins, AI co-pilots, and trusted AI governance frameworks. These technologies are being actively applied to critical areas such as organized crime detection, child protection, financial crime investigation, narcotics enforcement, and digital forensics.

Michel Ghorayeb, managing director of SAS UAE, emphasized the urgency and opportunity for agencies to modernize, saying: “As the world evolves, crime is becoming more sophisticated, data more abundant, and threats more versatile than ever. No agency can face this complexity alone. Collaboration powered by AI and intelligent decisioning is now essential to predict, detect, and respond with precision. These technologies empower officers to stay ahead of evolving threats and deliver safer outcomes. In today’s landscape, technology is no longer optional, it has become the foundation of modern policing.”

At the World Police Summit, Mohamed Mysara, public sector principal business solutions manager at SAS, showcased how AI and agentic intelligence are redefining the aviation landscape.

Mysara highlighted real-world use cases where SAS enables airports and authorities to move from reactive to autonomous operations, from early warning and risk detection to real-time resource reallocation and cross-agency coordination.

He demonstrated how agentic AI not only delivers role-specific intelligence, but also takes proactive action, reallocating gates and resources during flight delays or unforeseen circumstances, alerting third-party vendors, mobilizing and optimizing staffing

SAS has a long-standing commitment to empowering public sector organizations in the Middle East and beyond. In the UAE, SAS has contributed to impactful initiatives including cooperation with Dubai Police, Emirates Health Services, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority.

With AI adoption accelerating globally, SAS is at the forefront of data innovation for law enforcement. By combining domain expertise, advanced analytics, and trusted governance, SAS is enabling agencies to act faster, smarter, and with greater confidence.


LuLu’s ‘British Food Week 2025’ shines a spotlight on prominent UK brands

LuLu’s ‘British Food Week 2025’ shines a spotlight on prominent UK brands
Updated 22 May 2025
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LuLu’s ‘British Food Week 2025’ shines a spotlight on prominent UK brands

LuLu’s ‘British Food Week 2025’ shines a spotlight on prominent UK brands

LuLu Retail has officially inaugurated “British Food Week 2025” across all its stores in Saudi Arabia, offering customers a week-long celebration of British products and exclusive in-store promotions. The event highlights the strong trade ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK, emphasizing the quality and heritage of British brands.

The launch ceremony took place at LuLu’s Diplomatic Quarter branch in Riyadh and was officiated by British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Neil Crompton. He was joined by Shehim Mohammed, director of LuLu Hypermarkets Saudi Arabia, as well as senior representatives from the British Embassy and LuLu management.

Running until May 27, British Food Week 2025 features more than 3,438 British products representing 367 established and trusted UK brands. The diverse range includes fresh and frozen foods, dairy items, snacks, beverages, packaged groceries, and health-focused options such as organic and gluten-free products.

As part of this year’s campaign, LuLu has introduced 40 new items from seven leading UK brands, offering customers in Saudi Arabia exclusive early access to innovative products entering the market. This initiative reflects LuLu’s commitment to delivering high-quality international products through strong sourcing partnerships and seamless logistics.

Ambassador Crompton said: “I’m delighted to be part of the opening of British Food Week 2025 at LuLu. It’s wonderful to see so many familiar UK products available here in Saudi Arabia, from classic teas and cheeses to new innovations. Events like these remind us that trade is not just about numbers, but about people, tastes, and shared experiences. I thank LuLu for their continued support in bringing British products closer to Saudi consumers.”

Mohammed added: “British Food Week is one of our most anticipated events, and we’re proud to bring it back across all LuLu stores in Saudi Arabia. It’s a celebration of British quality and a reflection of our strong sourcing partnerships with UK suppliers. With the continued support of our logistics and packaging center in Birmingham, we’re able to ensure that a wide variety of British products reach our shelves smoothly and consistently, offering our customers the best of the UK every year.”

British Food Week 2025 is currently live across all LuLu outlets in the Kingdom, featuring exclusive promotions and a curated selection of premium British products.


SAB and HSBC to power Riyadh Air’s expansion across Mideast, Asia

SAB and HSBC to power Riyadh Air’s expansion across Mideast, Asia
Updated 22 May 2025
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SAB and HSBC to power Riyadh Air’s expansion across Mideast, Asia

SAB and HSBC to power Riyadh Air’s expansion across Mideast, Asia

Saudi Awwal Bank, one of the leading banks in Saudi Arabia, and HSBC, the global banking and financial services organization, have together been awarded the Middle East and Asia cash management mandate for Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s digital native carrier, as it prepares to commence operations this year.

For more than 70 years, HSBC and SAB’s banking partnership has enabled clients in the Kingdom to grow domestically and expand internationally. 

Together, SAB and HSBC will work closely with Riyadh Air to provide an integrated and seamless cash management program to manage all payment and liquidity needs across the two regions. 

As a domestic house bank, SAB will oversee operations within Riyadh Air’s home market of Saudi Arabia when it begins operations, including facilitating payments and liquidity management. Additionally, SAB has been mandated as one of the acquirers for Riyadh Air’s e-commerce transactions, further enhancing the airline’s operational capabilities.

Simultaneously, HSBC will support Riyadh Air with its planned expansion in markets across the wider Middle East and Asia. The mandate will enable Riyadh Air to leverage HSBC’s award-winning payments solutions including Virtual Accounts, Omni Collect and automated sweeping solutions, ensuring efficient cash management and seamless liquidity across their international operations. 

Executives from SAB and HSBC joined Riyadh Air at its new head office at the GACA Campus on Airport Road, for a signing ceremony to mark the partnership. 

Yasser Albarrak, chief corporate and institutional banking officer at SAB, said: “We are proud to support Riyadh Air as it embarks on a journey to redefine aviation travel in the Kingdom. This partnership highlights our commitment to providing innovative banking solutions that empower groundbreaking projects in Saudi Arabia, ensuring that Riyadh Air can achieve its vision of transforming the travel experience.”

Adam Boukadida, CFO of Riyadh Air, said: “We are proud to be partnering with SAB and HSBC as we embark on our journey to revolutionize air travel. This collaboration will enable us to manage our financial operations effectively, ensuring a smooth launch and seamless service delivery.”

Kyle Boag, head of global payments solutions, HSBC Middle East, North Africa and Turkiye, said: “Connecting clients across the world is at our core. This mandate underscores HSBC’s world-leading payments solutions, our expertise in the aviation sector and our commitment to Saudi Arabia’s growth. As the largest international bank across Asia and the Middle East, we will provide Riyadh Air with seamless cash solutions as they take flight to new markets.”


PIF strengthens leadership with key appointments

PIF strengthens leadership with key appointments
Updated 21 May 2025
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PIF strengthens leadership with key appointments

PIF strengthens leadership with key appointments

PIF announced the appointment of Saad Alkroud as head of the local real estate investment division. Alkroud has served as chief of staff since 2021. This move follows the appointment of Aiman Al-Mudaifer as managing director and chief executive of NEOM. Maram Al-Johani has been named acting chief of staff, in addition to being appointed as secretary-general to the PIF board of directors.

In his new role, Alkroud will be responsible for developing PIF’s local real estate and infrastructure investment portfolio, which includes the giga-projects and several other strategic developments.

Alkroud joined PIF in 2016 as head of stakeholder management, overseeing PIF board and committees affairs and international relations, as well as managing relationships with Saudi entities to deliver strategic initiatives and objectives. In 2021, he was appointed as chief of staff, and in 2022, he took on additional responsibilities as secretary-general to the PIF board of directors. In that position, he supervised corporate strategy and business plans, PIF’s project management office, including the establishment of new companies, and the affairs of PIF’s portfolio companies, stakeholders and committees. He also serves on the boards of several PIF companies.

Meanwhile, Al-Mudaifer has led the local real estate investment division since 2018, helping to drive significant growth and transformation. As of 2023, the portfolio included more than 35 real estate companies, with investments in Saudi real estate and infrastructure continuing to deliver sustainable returns. The advancement of and investment in landmark developments and infrastructure projects have helped position PIF at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification, including the creation of tourism and cultural destinations. Al-Mudaifer has served as the acting CEO of NEOM since November 2024 and is a board member of several PIF portfolio companies.

In her new role, Al-Johani will lead organization-wide strategic planning, data and committees governance, and the project management office. In addition, she will oversee portfolio company affairs and manage international and local stakeholders. Al-Johani joined PIF in 2017 after working for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She brings extensive experience to both roles, having served as PIF’s head of data and committees governance and advisory department since 2021.

These appointments reinforce PIF’s strong leadership foundation and support the delivery of its unique mandate and long-term strategy, within the organization and across its portfolio of more than 220 companies, to create opportunities for the global economy and drive the economic transformation of Saudi Arabia.