Potential Energy

Saudi Arabia and Ras Al Khaimah had their moment in the spotlight at recent UAE travel shows

- Dominic Ellis

Saudia’s Arabian Travel Market stand boasted leather chairs in economy, as well as business and first class, and the country stand was filled with a wide range of tourism and DMC offerings. Clearly the Kingdom’s travel scene is on the up, in line with the wider reform optimism.

It’s not just Saudia’s opulent finishings turning heads. These are dynamic times in the Kingdom and fastgrowing flyadeal – also owned by Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation – is serving the needs of its 32 million domestic travellers with its low-cost A320s zipping around the Gulf ’s largest country. Its eighth aircraftis due to be delivered late May. One mustn’t forget SaudiGulf too, which is now flying to Dubai, and it may not be long before flyadeal, which only launched last September, joins the regional capacity charge.

I am escorted to the first floor premium area, a calm oasis above the congested corridors, to hear Saudia CEO Jaan Albrecht talk enthusiastically about the connectivity potential that the new Jeddah Airport, which is due to start trials this summer and open by the end of the year, will provide.