Saudi Arabia’s AlUla welcomes first...

The Flynas flight left Dubai at 11.30am and arrived in AlUla at 1.40pm on 19 November

AlUla International Airport welcomed its first direct international flight, operated by low-cost Saudi carrier Flynas, from Dubai.

The flight, which had a duration of three hours, was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute and a Nabataean cultural performance in the presence of airport officials.

AlUla International Airport director Abdulwahab Bokhari, received the delegation along with government officials and representatives from the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and Flynas.

Known as ‘the world’s largest living museum’, AlUla is one of the oldest cities in the Arabian Peninsula and home to Hegra, a Unesco World Heritage Site. The city has some of the country’s most well-preserved antiquities dating back for thousands of years.

AlUla has made headlines around the world in recent months with the masterplan ‘Journey Through Time’ launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, RCU chairman. The plan details the development of a sustainable visitor destination that will welcome 2 million visitors annually by 2035.

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New international routes include three weekly flights between AlUla and Dubai and two weekly flights between AlUla and Kuwait.

AlUla Airport was officially named an international airport in February. With recent renovations and upgrades in design, the airport’s capacity has now gone up from 100,000 passengers a year to 400,000.

According to RCU, the launch of the international routes were timed to coincide with the winter event season which is underway in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, visit www.flynas.com