The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) on Sunday cautioned residents not to fall prey to bogus travel agents and tour operators promoting low-cost international flights during the summer vacation to woo customers.
Ahmed Al-Eisa, assistant vice president of the SCTA for licensing and quality assurance, warned both citizens and residents not to deal with anonymous individuals claiming to work for travel offices.
He said that the SCTA has developed new conditions and licensing requirements for travel and tourism agencies in cooperation with authorities such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the aim of providing legal and reliable agencies that operate according to specific procedures and clear contracts with airlines to ensure their credibility.
“The goal is to find regular and reliable agencies that operate according to specific procedures and clear contracts with airlines to ensure credibility,” Al-Eisa said.
He said that the commission regularly declares the names of travel and tourism agencies it has licensed on its official website and commits to displaying their licenses in prominent places to allow customers to avail themselves of genuine services and facilities.
The SCTA conducts regular inspection and monitoring visits to illegal travel offices in order to limit individual marketing practices and enforces penalties that may result in closing down the facilities, he said.
“Nevertheless, the commission expects people to play their part and safeguard their rights. Travelers should not deal with offices that are not licensed by the SCTA and should report any illegal offices to enable the Supreme Tourism Commission to take action against illegal offers and promotions,” he said.
Both citizens and expats can register their complaints or remarks along with evidence on toll-free number 19988 or through visiting the nearest SCTA branch or via the official SCTA website on www.scta.gov.sa.
The announcement came ahead of the the summer vacation, when a huge number of Saudis travel abroad.
According to a statistics, Saudis spent a whopping SR40 billion last summer alone, with Dubai remaining the top tourist destination.
Tourists warned against fake travel agents
Tourists warned against fake travel agents
Saudi wildlife center records rare sighting of critically endangered leatherback turtle in Red Sea
- NCW says the leatherback traveled thousands of kilometers to reach the Red Sea
- The closest known nesting grounds are located in India’s Andaman Islands, some 6,500 km distant
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has documented a rare sighting of a leatherback sea turtle in the Red Sea, marking a significant biological record for one of the planet's most critically endangered marine species.
The sighting occurred approximately 30 kilometers off the coast of Al-Qunfudhah within the Blue Holes Protected Area, a newly established marine reserve, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The NCW confirmed that the presence of a leatherback in these waters is an exceptional event. Recognized as the largest turtle species on Earth, the leatherback can weigh up to 900 kilograms. It is easily identified by its unique leathery, black carapace—distinguished by five longitudinal ridges rather than a hard bony shell—and its ability to dive to depths exceeding 1,000 meters.
Noting the species' migratory nature, the center explained that leatherbacks travel thousands of kilometers foraging for jellyfish. The specimen likely navigated through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in search of food.
This is considered a remarkable journey, the NCW said, noting that the nearest known populations reside in the Indian Ocean, spanning waters from South Africa to Sri Lanka (roughly 7,000 to 8,000 kilometers away). The closest known nesting grounds are located in India’s Andaman Islands, approximately 6,500 kilometers distant. No nesting activity has been recorded in the Red Sea.
According to the IUCN Red List, the leatherback is Critically Endangered in the Indian Ocean. While data for the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf is scarce, recent isolated sightings include a juvenile recorded in Jordan in December 2025 and another off Djibouti in 2019.
The NCW emphasized that these rare appearances highlight the ecological importance of the Kingdom's marine conservation efforts in the Red Sea. The center pointed to the Farasan Islands Marine Protected Area, along with the new Blue Holes and Ras Hatiba reserves, as critical sanctuaries that could support the potential expansion of such endangered species' ranges.
