Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) reached record growth in 2017 in the number of new Al-Fursan memberships — the airline’s frequent flyer program — with more than 850,000 new members, 6.6 billion miles earned, and 132,000 air travel tickets redeemed by members.
The Al-Fursan loyalty program has grown significantly last year, expanding to new partnerships allowing members to gain points from vendors in the Kingdom and worldwide.
Additionally, as Saudia is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, Al-Fursan members also benefit in accruing miles on Saudia and 19 member airlines across the world.
The Al-Fursan program includes additional services for members that gives them redemption miles and with partner airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, members can benefit from Priority Lane, and receive discounts and special offers.
The airline’s mobile app also makes it easier for Al-Fursan members to make their bookings. Recent enhancements to the app were made last year, making it simpler for members to easily log into their membership profile to review miles status and make a booking, which automatically links to their membership profile to add their upcoming travel points. The Saudia mobile app is available on the Apple Store and on Google Play.
Saudia recently underwent an expansion and modernization plan for its Al-Fursan lounges around the Kingdom. Newly renovated lounges can be found in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Madinah, providing guests with a world-class experience.
In February last year, Saudia opened its first Al-Fursan lounge outside the Kingdom, in Cairo, Egypt.
Customer service for Al-Fursan members is available on the website, by phone or by email. Members can redeem points and inquire about rewards miles, update their profile by logging onto the website (alfursan.saudiairlines.com) or by calling the call center at 920022222.
Members may also communicate with Saudia’s Al-Fursan program via email ([email protected]).
SkyTeam is the global airline alliance with 20 member airlines working together to offer seamless travel on an extensive global network. SkyTeam customers can unwind in 600+ lounges as they travel and earn and redeem Frequent Flyer Miles. SkyTeam welcomes 730 million customers each year on more than 16,609 daily flights to 1,074 destinations in 177 countries.
Saudi Arabian Airlines’ loyalty program adds over 850,000 new members in 2017
Saudi Arabian Airlines’ loyalty program adds over 850,000 new members in 2017
More crop per drop: NADEC and EF Polymer deploy breakthrough technology to cut agricultural water use by 40%
Following a strategic technology-scouting framework led by Universal Materials Incubator, the National Agricultural Development Company has entered into a partnership to launch large-scale field trials of EF Polymer, marking a significant step in deploying deep-technology solutions to strengthen the Kingdom’s food and water security.
The collaboration initiates field trials of EF Polymer’s proprietary solution — a 100 percent organic, biodegradable powder that performs like a “soil battery” upcycled from food waste. Engineered to address water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, the material can absorb up to 50 times its own weight in water and gradually release moisture directly to plant roots. This mechanism has the potential to reduce irrigation water use by up to 40 percent, while enhancing crop yield and long-term agricultural productivity.
Beyond water efficiency, EF Polymer improves nutrient retention by minimizing fertilizer leaching, thereby reducing overall fertilizer requirements. After approximately one year in the soil, the material fully biodegrades into organic carbon, organic matter, and trace nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen — contributing directly to improved soil health and long-term fertility.
The solution is affordable, easy to apply, and suitable for a wide range of crops, making it viable both for individual farmers and for industrial-scale agricultural operations such as NADEC’s.
EF Polymer has already achieved significant commercial adoption across multiple global markets, including Japan, the US, India and Turkiye, where it is actively used by farmers and agribusiness operators to improve water efficiency, soil health, and crop resilience under varying climatic conditions.
Its organic credentials are certified by OMRI and Ecocert, reinforcing its alignment with sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
The stakes for this alliance are high. By 2030, global freshwater demand is projected to exceed supply by 40 percent. In Saudi Arabia, the challenge is localized but intense: the agricultural sector alone consumes approximately 11.4 billion cubic meters of water annually. This partnership underscores NADEC’s commitment to adopting innovative, scalable technologies that conserve natural resources while supporting resilient food systems across the Kingdom.
Mohamed Al-Rajhi, VP of supply chain sector at NADEC, said: “Strategic agriculture today requires a long-term commitment to soil health and resource circularity. NADEC is leading the shift toward regenerative practices that restore our natural capital rather than merely consuming it. By diversifying our crop portfolio and investing in closed-loop nutrient management, we are insulating our operations against global price volatility and environmental shifts.”
“We are aggressively deploying AI-driven irrigation systems and satellite-based crop monitoring to optimize every drop of water and every hectare of land. This strategic pivot toward agri-digitization allows us to mitigate climate risks in real-time while significantly reducing our carbon footprint. Our commitment to sustainability is our greatest competitive advantage, ensuring that NADEC remains the cornerstone of the Middle East’s agri-food sector for decades to come. These trials focus on strategic scalable crops like wheat and olive trees to ensure the future of the Kingdom’s food security is both sustainable and locally rooted,” he added.
Strategic trial milestones:
- Wheat: Trials have commenced to demonstrate water retention in this water-intensive crop.
- Olive and blueberry: Specialized testing is scheduled for March to evaluate yield improvements and nutrient efficiency.
This collaboration supports Saudi Vision 2030 goals of reducing non-renewable groundwater use by 90 percent.
