Makarem Umm Al Qura Hotel & Civil Defense hold fire safety drill
August 16, 2017

As part of the plan to raise awareness on safety procedures and ensuring crisis preparedness, the Civil Defense in Makkah Al Mokaramah carried out a fire safety drill at Makarem Umm Al Qura Hotel in cooperation with the hotel`s safety and security department.

The security personnel at the hotel conducted a complete evacuation process to minimize any imminent danger that could threaten the security of the guests, employees, and properties,"...

Saudi Arabia hopes to attract Western tourists
August 16, 2017

Saudi Arabia, known for religious shrines, deserts and strict religious codes, is not exactly a first-choice travel destination for Western tourists who associate “vacation” with sandy beaches, skimpy bathing suits and potent appletinis.

But the conservative oil-rich kingdom is seeking to fashion a new image"...

Doubletree by Hilton Jeddah Al Salamah District Hotel Announced for 2020
August 16, 2017

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced the signing of a management agreement with Fahd Abdallah al-Harbi & Sons Limited to open DoubleTree by Hilton Jeddah Al Salamah District in Saudi Arabia. The hotel is expected to begin welcoming guests in Q1 2020.

'Saudi Arabia features our largest pipeline in the Middle East, and we are pleased to be expanding our portfolio in the country with the addition"...

The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award for 2016 Awarded to 1954 Maserati A6GCS/53 Berlinetta by Pinin Farina
August 16, 2017

At a highly-anticipated private gathering during the famed Monterey Car Week, a 1954 Maserati A6GCS/53 Berlinetta by Pinin Farina, from the Monaco-based Destriero Collection, was named winner of the prestigious second-annual The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. Only four Berlinetta-bodied sports cars from Pinin Farina were ever produced, and this exquisite model is considered to be the best preserved, as it is the only one that retains its original chassis and body. Custom ordered by the Roman dealer of the marque, the sports car is based on the very successful 2-liter racing car developed by the Maserati brothers. Its uncompromising sporting style is highly representative of the coachbuilding artistry of the 1950s, helping it win Best in Show at last year’s Concorso d’Eleganza......

Coastline of contradictions: Saudi Arabia's sharia-free holiday plans
August 14, 2017

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia announced plans to build beach resorts on the Red Sea as part of a project that will including luxury hotels, residential units, and transport infrastructure on 50 islands and along the coast. The area, which will reportedly cover more than 180km of coastline, will have its own “semi-autonomous” legal status, and laws “on par with international standards”. In other words, to promote international tourism, it will not follow Saudi Arabia’s conservative and sharia-based laws. The plan comes in part of the kingdom's Vision 2030, a grandiose economic reform project, initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which includes diversification away from dependency on oil. Vision 2030 has been heavily promoted by the state as promising a new......

Saudi Arabia to resume building mammoth Mecca hotel - sources
August 14, 2017

Saudi Arabia is set to restart work on one of the world’s largest hotel projects, the US$3.5bil (RM15bil) Abraj Kudai in Mecca, where a financial squeeze halted construction in 2015.

When completed, the Abraj Kudai is meant to have about 10,000 rooms, 70 restaurants, several helipads and a section reserved for the Saudi royal family.

Renewed plans for the government-funded project signal Riyadh is again willing to spend on strategic"...

Saudi Arabia Has Plans for 24 Theme Parks to Boost Tourism, Jobs
August 14, 2017

Saudi Arabia is looking to tap into the growing regional theme park industry with a new government-owned company set to build 24 parks across the kingdom in partnership with the private sector, said a report.

The initiative is part of efforts to boost tourism in the kingdom and create"...

Takamul lays out plan to monitor Saudization of tourism sector
August 12, 2017

The National Center for Tourism Human Resources Development (Takamul) organized a workshop laying out plans to monitor the Saudization of tourism jobs.
A Takamul official said Thursday the center’s efforts in this regard are in cooperation with the Department of Licensing and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH). The plan is supported by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.
The workshop concluded with an agreement"...

3 Makkah museums get SCTNH licenses
August 6, 2017

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage has licensed three private museums in Makkah.

Director General of the toursim body in Makkah, Faisal Al-Sharif, said SCTNH chief Prince Sultan Bin Salman on Friday approved licenses for the three museums taking the total number of such facilities in the city to seven.

“The private museums have met the requirements of the commission. Makkah has two other public museums: The Al-Haramain"...

Saudi tourism events and festivals help generate jobs, revenue
August 6, 2017

Saudi Arabia is witnessing remarkable growth in tourism events and festivals which, together, attract millions of visitors, help to generate revenue, and create temporary job opportunities for citizens, according to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).
Over the course of this summer, the SCTH, in cooperation with tourism development councils and municipal authorities throughout the country, will have staged more than 113 tourism festivals....