LONDON: Direct flights from Hamad International Airport in Doha to Red Sea International Airport on Saudi Arabia’s west coast will begin next month under a partnership agreement between Qatar Airways and real estate developer Red Sea Global.
The first scheduled flight will take off on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and three flights will be available each week, the companies said.
“This partnership with Qatar Airways marks a pivotal step in cementing our destinations’ position as a global hub for luxury and sustainability,” said John Pagano, the CEO of Red Sea Global, a real estate and tourism development company based in Tabuk that is part of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The flights will connect visitors with natural and cultural sites on the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, and serve recent luxury tourism developments there, he added.
Badr Al-Meerm, the group CEO of Qatar Airways, said: “With this launch, travelers can now access these unique experiences with the world’s best airline, through our hub and base of operations at Hamad International Airport.”
Red Sea International Airport has been welcoming visitors from Jeddah and Riyadh on Saudia flights since 2023, and from Dubai on flydubai services since 2024.
The Red Sea tourism destination, part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan for development and diversification of the national economy, currently features five luxury resorts, including the St. Regis Red Sea and Nujuma Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Upon completion in 2030, developers say, the regenerative tourism destination on the west coast of Saudi Arabia will include 50 hotels and more than 1,000 residential properties spread across six locations and 22 islands, and is expected to attract 1 million visitors each year.
