Uzbekistan’s Air Samarkand to operate regular flights to Saudi Arabia

Air Samarkand operated its first scheduled flight on March 21. Air Samarkand
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Updated 29 July 2024
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Uzbekistan’s Air Samarkand to operate regular flights to Saudi Arabia

  • Company to commence regular operations twice a week starting July 30
  • Move aims to strengthen connectivity and broaden Kingdom’s air transport network

RIYADH: Uzbekistan’s Air Samarkand has been granted approval to launch regular flights to Saudi Arabia, enhancing connectivity between the two nations.

The Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation authorized the company to commence regular operations twice a week starting July 30, according to a statement.

This initiative is part of GACA’s continuous efforts to strengthen connectivity and broaden Saudi Arabia’s air transport network as part of the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

It also aligns well with the Kingdom’s aim to transform the region into a global logistics hub and open new opportunities for the sector, aligning with the ambitions of the Saudi Aviation Strategy.

This move cements the Kingdom and Uzbekistan’s economic cooperation models, which reflect a mutual commitment to prosperity through shared goals in the two countries’ 2030 plans. 

In April, Saudi Arabia gave the aviation firm China Southern Airlines the green light to operate flights between Riyadh and three cities in the Asian country.

GACA, through its Air Transport and International Cooperation Sector, authorized the company at the time to commence regular operations from Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to the Saudi capital, according to a statement.

The travel schedule announced at the time included four passenger or commercial flights, as well as three air cargo trips a week.

These developments come as a new air route between Riyadh and Shanghai was established in March, thanks to a collaboration between the Saudi Air Connectivity Program and China Eastern Airlines. 

The pair had agreed to enter into a partnership directly linking Shanghai Pudong International Airport to King Khalid International Airport in the Kingdom’s capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported at that time.

The services announced at the time were set to operate with an A330-200 aircraft, offering an annual capacity of 35,880 inbound seats.

This move was set to enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and China and falls in line with the growing interest and demand for travel between the two nations.  

GACA’s mission is to contribute to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product while growing and modernizing its aviation sector. It also seeks to be a globally leading, innovative, and trusted aviation regulator.


New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

Updated 28 January 2026
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New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has issued a request for information to gauge the market for modular and offsite fit-out solutions for its flagship Mukaab development, MEED reported on Wednesday.

The RFI was released on Jan. 26, with submissions due by Feb. 11. NMDC has also scheduled a market engagement meeting during the first week of February to discuss potential solutions with prospective contractors.

Sources close to the project told MEED that NMDC is “seeking experienced suppliers and contractors to advise on the feasibility, constraints, and execution strategy for using non-load-bearing modular systems for the four corner towers framing the Mukaab structure.” The feedback gathered from these discussions will be incorporated into later design and procurement decisions.

The four towers — two residential (North and South) and two mixed-use (East and West) — are integral to the Mukaab’s architectural layout. Each tower is expected to rise approximately 375 meters and span over 80 stories. Key modular elements under consideration include bathroom pods, kitchen pods, dressing room modules, panelized steel partition systems, and other offsite-manufactured fit-out solutions.

Early works on the Mukaab were completed last year, with NMDC preparing to award the estimated $1 billion contract for the main raft works. This was highlighted in a presentation by NMDC’s chief project delivery officer on Sept. 9, 2025, during the Future Projects Forum in Riyadh.

Earlier this month, US-based Parsons Corp. was awarded a contract by NMDC to provide design and construction technical support. Parsons will act as the lead design consultant for infrastructure, delivering services covering public buildings, infrastructure, landscaping, and the public realm at New Murabba. The firm will also support the development of the project’s downtown experience, which spans 14 million sq. meters of residential, workplace, and entertainment space.

The Parsons contract follows NMDC’s October 2025 agreements with three other US-based engineering firms for design work across the development. New York-headquartered Kohn Pedersen Fox was appointed to lead early design for the first residential community, while Aecom and Jacobs were selected as lead design consultants for the Mukaab district.

In August 2025, NMDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Falcons Creative Group, another US-based firm, to develop the creative vision and immersive experiences for the Mukaab project. Meanwhile, Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Co. completed the excavation works for the Mukaab, and UAE-headquartered HSSG Foundation Contracting executed the foundation works.