Antarctica is slowly emerging as one of the most sought after destinations for Saudi cruise travelers, who are always in search for something exotic and different.
As per the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), 38,478 visitors traveled to Antarctica with IAATO members during 2015 and 2016. That is a 4.6 percent increase over the previous season. Furthermore, 43,885 visitors are expected to visit the continent in the 2016-2017 season.
To address the needs of the Saudi travelers, “The Q Experiences” has announced a trip to Antarctica on a luxury cruise. Starting on Dec. 9, this will be an 11-day curated trip to the exotic ice-crowned continent rightly known as “the White Continent.”
Vasim Shaikh, founder of the India headquartered, Q Experiences said: “We have received a tremendous response for this remarkable trip from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. At Q, it is our constant endeavor to create memories that last a lifetime for all our travelers; we are keen on creating a similar experience for our Gulf travelers as well, and we are hopeful to see more travelers from this region to join us in this trip of a lifetime.”
“It is the first time such a curated journey to Antarctica is being promoted in the GCC. Since the number of travelers from this region has been negligible over the last few years, The Q wanted to bring this journey to the luxury travelers of GCC who are globetrotters and have been waiting to step foot on the seventh continent. We have put together the most refined way to explore the wilderness of Antarctic Peninsula with a superlative culinary experience,” added Shaikh.
Starting off from Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the luxury cruise trip promises to create an experience of a lifetime.
The travelers would be on board “The Great Majestic Explorer” — a sleek, gorgeous yacht, which would have 132 elegant staterooms and suites. To ensure a superior gastronomic experience to the travelers, Atul Kochhar, renowned Indian Michelin-starred chef will be on board curating the finest of Indian regional cuisine. In addition, the team of a catering center of excellence run by Alain Ducasse Enterprise will also be on board to enhance the global cuisine.
“The travelers aboard the Majestic Explorer will be sailing through the confluence of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, known as ‘The Drake Passage’ for two days and nights. On the fourth day, travelers will get their first experience of magnificent glaciers, rising slowly from the waters at Neko Bay and Paradise Bay,” added Mr.Shaikh.
Marching toward Port Charcot and Port Lockroy on day five and six, travelers will explore the stunning ice-covered rocks and home to the kelp gull — a haven for the avid wildlife enthusiast.
On the seventh day, travelers will be exploring “Deception Island” — a place steeped in history and home to the largest colony of “Chinstrap Penguins” in the Antarctic peninsula. Travelers will witness a breathtaking sight of over 100,000 pairs of penguins and play along with serenity of Elephant seals and Fur seals. The following day, they will be sailing through the quietest places on earth -—The Weddell Sea.
“During the last three days of the journey, travelers will hit the land, crossing the Drake Passage once more, making their way back to Ushuaia and civilization. The ship will dock on the last day and the journey to majestic White Continent will thereby come to an end,” said Shaikh.
Saudi travel enthusiasts can now explore the White Continent
Saudi travel enthusiasts can now explore the White Continent
RLC Global Forum places Kingdom at center of future of retail
The RLC Global Forum will return to the Saudi capital on Feb. 3–4 to shape the future of retail and consumer-facing industries at a defining moment for growth against a backdrop of shifting cross-border commerce, evolving consumption patterns, and the global AI imperative.
As the world’s economic and cultural gravity continues to shift, Riyadh stands at the intersection of transformation by connecting East and West, tradition and innovation, and providing the ideal stage for this global dialogue.
The forum’s launch coincides with the announcement of two strategic partnerships with Cenomi Centers and Panda Retail Company, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a driving force in the global growth narrative.
Speaking to Arab News ahead of the annual forum, Panos Linardos, chairman of RLC Global Forum, said the event enables decision-makers to create a sustainable growth and innovation strategy in retail by monitoring major transformative forces affecting worldwide leaders.
“At the 2026 RLC Global Forum, the priority is not identifying trends — in fact most leaders already see the signals — but understanding how those forces collide and reshape decision-making. This year’s agenda reflects a world at a growth crossroads: capital is more disciplined, consumers are more selective, and traditional operating models are under strain,” said Linardos.
“This year we are focused on three interconnected questions. First, where does enduring growth come from when scale alone no longer guarantees resilience? Second, how are power and value shifting across the retail ecosystem? And third, how do markets like Saudi Arabia move from rapid expansion to sustainable, system-level value creation?” said the chairman.
“We believe that retail does not operate in isolation. That is why the forum is structured to examine these dynamics across retail, real estate, technology, and investment as a single interdependent system. This integrated view, rather than siloed thinking, is where meaningful strategy now takes shape,” he added.
The forum will convene more than 2,000 senior decision-makers in Riyadh, with participants spanning global retail groups, sovereign-linked investors, developers, technology platforms, policymakers, and academic institutions from more than 40 countries.
“What matters most, however, is not scale but composition. You must understand that this is an invitation-only audience shaped deliberately around decision-making authority. CEOs sit alongside ministers, investors alongside operators, and academics alongside practitioners, not to offer commentary, but to interrogate assumptions and test strategies against real-world constraints,” said Linardos.
What distinguishes the forum is its ability to bring global perspectives into direct conversation with regional realities.
“As Saudi Arabia’s role in global trade, tourism, and consumer markets accelerates, that intersection has become increasingly relevant for leaders reassessing how and where growth is built,” he said.
Reports indicate that retail sales in the Kingdom are forecast to reach $161.4 billion by 2028. “The scale of the opportunity is clear, but the more interesting question is how that growth is shaped,” Linardos told Arab News. “Demographics, digital adoption, tourism growth, and large-scale urban development are converging at once. That creates opportunity, but also raises the bar. The next phase of retail growth in the Kingdom will favor models that integrate physical space, digital infrastructure, cultural relevance, and operational discipline.”
At the 2026 RLC Global Forum, many of the discussions center on this transition, he said.
The Kingdom’s advantage lies in its ability to design ecosystems where retail, hospitality, culture, and experience reinforce one another. Creating this long-term, integrated value is a core focus of the discussions at the forum, he added.
Commenting on the forum’s role in the future of the Saudi retail landscape, Linardos said: “Saudi Arabia does not need another conference to showcase ambition. What it benefits from — and increasingly demands — is a platform for informed, global dialogue grounded in execution. The RLC Global Forum plays that role by positioning Saudi Arabia not as a case study, but as a strategic participant in shaping the future of retail and consumer economies.”
“By bringing global leaders into Riyadh, the forum allows for an exchange that is both outward-looking and locally anchored. As the Kingdom moves from rapid transformation to long-term institution building, these conversations become more consequential. The forum is thus a critical catalyst in translating Vision 2030’s ambitions into a resilient, global-market reality,” he added.
The RLC Global Forum is a leading platform that brings together the world’s most influential retail leaders, innovators, and policymakers to drive positive industry change. It marks the next phase of the Retail Leaders Circle’s 12-year mission to connect and empower decision-makers across the retail and consumer-facing sectors.
Through high-level dialogue and strategic cross-industry initiatives, the forum addresses the long-term forces defining the trajectory of retail and its interconnected ecosystems.
Alongside the annual retail forum in Riyadh, the RLC Global Forum curates a calendar of high-profile events around the world, including the CEO Summit in New York and the RLC Fashion Summit in Milan.
