Ihsan Bafakih, governor of the Saudi Real Estate General Authority

Ihsan Bafakih
Updated 09 July 2019
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Ihsan Bafakih, governor of the Saudi Real Estate General Authority

Ihsan Bafakih serves as governor of the Real Estate General Authority. He was appointed following a royal decree in December 2018.

He is also a board member of the Real Estate General Authority. Bafakih has more than 17 years’ experience in investment banking in the Kingdom.

He had been the CEO of Mohammed Al-Subeaei and Sons Investments Co. (MASIC) since August 2011. He was the first non-family member CEO in the Riyadh-based holding company.

Bafakih represented NCB, SABB, and HSBC at the SAMA Investment Product Committee between 1997 and 2006. As the chief financial officer, he developed self-sustainable financial modeling for the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON).

He was a member of several boards and councils, including the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council from 2012 to 2016, and Albilad Capital from 2012 to 2014 and of Thakher Real Estate Investment in 2012.

Bafakih holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, US. He is also a wealth manager certified by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA).

Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal announced on Monday that a piece of land of the state-owned Al-Faisaliah project area will be allocated to establish an airport for Hajj and Umrah.

The new pilgrims’ airport will be connected with King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Bafakih, and the executive chairman of Saudi Electricity Co., Fahd Al-Sudairy, signed an agreement to allow a new solar energy project for the Al-Faisaliah Project area.


‘Flying Over Saudi’ launches cinematic aerial experience of Saudi landmarks

Updated 26 December 2025
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‘Flying Over Saudi’ launches cinematic aerial experience of Saudi landmarks

RIYADH: The Flying Over Saudi experience was launched on Thursday at Boulevard City as part of Riyadh Season, introducing visitors to the first experience of its kind in the Kingdom. 

The attraction provides a cinematic aerial journey using immersive technologies and multisensory effects that display Saudi Arabia’s most significant natural and urban landscapes from a new perspective, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The experience takes guests on a visual journey over the Kingdom’s diverse terrain, taking in Saudi Arabia’s vast deserts, towering mountains, lush valleys, modern cities, and expansive coastlines, in addition to special views of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. 

The film is presented in 8K resolution, featuring high-quality footage that captures the Kingdom’s geographic and cultural richness in a matter of minutes.

Each ride lasts about eight minutes, enhanced by sensory effects such as wind, water mist, and natural scent elements, along with innovative seat motion that intensifies the sense of realism and creates an experience close to actual flight. 

The visual and audio technologies work seamlessly together to immerse visitors fully in the scenes presented.

By combining its immersive elements with footage filmed over diverse landscapes, Flying Over Saudi offers Riyadh Season visitors a new perspective of the Kingdom, one that merges advanced technology with local visual identity and highlights one of the widest natural maps extending from north to south and from the coastlines into the heart of the cities.

The launch of this experience exemplifies Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment built on innovation and advanced presentation techniques. It further contributes to introducing visitors, from the Kingdom and abroad, to the beauty and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s destinations, reinforcing the season’s position as a leading platform for world-class immersive experiences.