Gulf Air inaugurates direct service to AlUla with first flight arrival from Bahrain

AlUla International Airport celebrated a significant achievement on Saturday, 3^rd February, with the launch of Gulf Air’s first flight to AlUla. The direct service between Manama and AlUla will operate twice a week, starting from 3^rdFebruary to 6^th March, and from 10^th April to 27^th April, on Gulf Air’s A320-Neo aircraft.

AlUla’s appeal is considerable, with an increasing number of regional and international travelers drawn to its rich heritage, timeless natural beauty, and diverse calendar of events, including the AlUla Arts Festival, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup and Tough Mudder Infinity AlUla in February.

Rami AlMoallim, Vice President of Destination Management and Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) said: “We extend a warm welcome to our newest visitors to AlUla, the gateway to a world of history, culture, and adventure. As our destination expands its offerings to international tourists, we are delighted to be included as a key addition to Gulf Air’s seasonal destinations for 2024 and look forward to showcasing the beauty and allure of this ancient destination to more travelers from around the world.”

The city’s dedication to enhancing its international accessibility is evident in the planned expansion of AlUla International Airport, with aims to raise the annual passenger threshold from 400,000 to six million. This expansion is set to offer more than just increased capacity, delivering a luxury, immersive experience with state-of-the-art facilities.

The enhancement of flight operations and airport infrastructure is aligned with AlUla’s ongoing goal to welcome two million visitors annually by 2035, while avoiding over-tourism. This exemplifies a dynamic, ongoing light-touch tourism strategy that ensures the destination’s viability for the future, without compromising on the quality of the visitor experience.

Recently, Saudia airlines has expanded AlUla’s connectivity to Europe through flights from Paris, with the return of its Paris’ seasonal flight which took off on 28^th January 2024. Royal Jordanian is poised to contribute to this accessibility with the launch of direct flights from Amman to AlUla, scheduled to start from 16^th February 2024. Direct flight options to AlUla are also available from Dubai, Doha, and various cities within Saudi Arabia.