Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oil Park Development Company (OPDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the entity behind the world-first adventure tourism destination, THE RIG.
The agreement, which was signed in Riyadh by Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of Saudia, and Raed Bakhrji, CEO of Oil Park Development Company, sets the stage for Saudia and THE RIG. to jointly collaborate on initiatives designed to drive traffic to the Eastern province and elevate the overall guest experience.
Furthermore, the partnership will delve into new transportation methods, including eVTOL, and carbon reduction initiatives, aligning with the sustainability goals of both organizations.
Captain Ibrahim Koshy said: “At Saudia, we are deeply committed to fulfilling our role as the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’ to accomplish our goals in line with the Kingdom’s tourism strategy, which is to bring around 150 million visitors to Saudi Arabia by 2030. This collaboration holds great promises for the travel and tourism industry. Along with our partners, we look forward to leveraging our combined expertise to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.”
Raed Bakhrji said:
“THE RIG. draws inspiration from Vision 2030 and its initiatives to develop the tourism sector.”
“It is expected to be one of the leading adventure tourism projects, offering visitors an unparalleled mix of adventure experiences. Our collaboration with Saudia is expected to enhance the quality and uniqueness of our offerings, providing visitors with a wide range of easy access options to this distinctive tourist destination.”
Saudia was established in 1945 and has grown to become one of the Middle East’s largest airlines. A member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO), Saudia has also been a member airline in SkyTeam, the second largest alliance, since 2012.
