Indian airline Vistara commences services to Dammam

Senior management from Vistara and local officials inaugurate the new daily non-stop service.
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Updated 06 March 2023
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Indian airline Vistara commences services to Dammam

Vistara, an Indian full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, has inaugurated its daily non-stop service between Mumbai and Dammam. This is Vistara’s second destination in Saudi Arabia, complementing its 7x weekly connectivity between Mumbai and Jeddah. Deploying its A320neo aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration and enhanced features, Vistara is the only airline to offer travelers the choice of premium economy cabin, in addition to business and economy class on this route. 

Vinod Kannan, chief executive, Vistara, said: “We are delighted to commence operations to Dammam, a major administrative hub in Saudi Arabia and home to a large Indian diaspora. The addition of Dammam to our growing international network is in line with our goal to further strengthen our presence in the Middle East. Dammam will be the fifth Vistara destination in the region — after Dubai, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi and Muscat. We are certain that Vistara, with its award-winning product and services, will be a preferred carrier on the Mumbai-Dammam route.”

Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings.

Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdviser, and it has been the winner of several “Best Airline” awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The airline has recently been featured among the world’s top 20 airlines while being recognized as the “Best Airline in India and Southern Asia” for the second time in a row, “Best Airline Staff Service in India and Southern Asia” for the fourth consecutive year, “Best Cabin Crew in India and Southern Asia” for the second time in a row and “Best Business Class in India and Southern Asia” at the coveted Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022. Vistara also recently received the ch-aviation Asia’s “Third Youngest Airline Fleet” award for the second consecutive year.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.