Saudia Cargo shipped 58 cars to KSA for Formula E

The cars, spares and the various equipment were carried from several European destinations to Riyadh.
Updated 16 December 2018
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Saudia Cargo shipped 58 cars to KSA for Formula E

Saudia Cargo has helped bring the Saudi Arabian Airlines-sponsored FIA’s Formula E Championship to Riyadh. 

Saudia, for the first time, sponsored the season’s opening race for the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, which was held, also for the first time, in the historic city of Ad Diriyah, located on the outskirts of Riyadh, from Dec. 13-15.

The cars, spares and various equipment were carried from several European destinations to King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, a total of 58 cars aboard several aircraft with a combined load exceeding 220 tons.

Ad Diriyah, the venue for the 2018 Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historical capital of the Kingdom.

Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, is a class of auto racing that uses only electric-powered cars. Inspired by innovation, this race utilizes eco-friendly electric energy and offers the excitement of track racing. The inaugural championship started in Beijing in September 2014. It has since then toured the most iconic cities around the world, such as New York, Paris and Hong Kong. 

The three-day festival, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, provided a variety of entertainment activities, from the Formula-E races to live musical performances and the Allianz E-Village, an area full of innovative electric cars and gaming platforms, providing an opportunity for fans and families to discover the world of Formula E.

Earlier this year, Saudia Cargo carried the equipment of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) event to the Kingdom for the “Crown Jewel” tournament and transported two satellites from Riyadh to Shanghai. 

Furthermore, Saudia Cargo facilitated the delivery of a valuable authentic Russian portrait by Wassily Kandinsky, which was displayed at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh last October.


Tourism Minister opens Radisson Hotel Madinah

Updated 24 February 2026
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Tourism Minister opens Radisson Hotel Madinah

Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the Tourism Development Fund Ahmed Al-Khateeb recently inaugurated the Radisson Hotel Madinah. The hotel has been enabled by the TDF, a Saudi government fund dedicated to supporting and developing the Saudi tourism sector. The opening of the new property falls within ongoing efforts to enhance the hospitality infrastructure in Madinah and increase its readiness to receive visitors, thereby improving the quality of tourism services in line with the objectives of the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
The minister stated that the opening of Radisson Hotel Madinah reflects TDF’s commitment to high-quality and diversified projects that meet visitors’ needs. He said: “Saudi Arabia continues to advance the development of the hospitality sector across different regions to ensure the provision of exceptional accommodation experiences that enhance the visitor journey and support the sustainable growth of tourism, particularly in cities of religious and historical significance such as Madinah.”
TDF CEO Qusai Al-Fakhri said that the fund continues to perform its role as the national enabler of the tourism sector by supporting projects that generate tangible economic and developmental impact. He explained that the hotel’s opening represents a model of TDF’s role in diversified tourism investments and support for the private sector’s hotel projects, which increase accommodation capacity, create job opportunities, and enhance quality of life in Madinah.
The four-star Radisson Hotel Madinah spans an area exceeding 2,300 square meters and comprises 165 rooms. It is located next to Quba Mosque, 12 minutes by car from the Prophet’s Mosque, and 20 minutes from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, making it a convenient choice for city visitors and pilgrims. The hotel includes a restaurant serving guests and visitors, dedicated meeting and event spaces, and sports facilities. 
The hotel contributes to stimulating the local economic activity and supporting the tourism and hospitality ecosystem, enhancing Madinah’s readiness to receive increasing numbers of visitors and pilgrims in the coming years.
This project is part of the TDF’s portfolio of tourism projects in various regions of the Kingdom. The TDF has contributed to more than 130 tourism projects in Madinah, with total contributions exceeding SR1.5 billion ($400 million) and accommodation capacity surpassing 2,100 hotel rooms, reaffirming its role in advancing tourism investment, sustainable development objectives, and the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy, in line with the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.