Azerbaijan, Baku, July 20 / Trend /
Flydubai, Dubai's pioneering low cost airline, has launched operations to the oil-rich Saudi Arabian city of Dammam, the Airline reported.
With trade between the UAE and KSA growing year-on-year, this new daily service is expected to encourage further collaboration whilst also, catering to the growing number of business travellers between the cities.
Flydubai CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: "Development of the travel and tourism industry is a core focus for the Saudi government as it increases its non-oil GDP and diversifies the economy. With the launch of this route we hope to further strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two countries and open up new areas of partnership."
Saudi Arabia was the UAE's top GCC trading partner in 2010, with UAE-Saudi Arabia trade worth Dh21.1 billion. With inter-country relations in non-oil sectors such as science, industry and telecommunications growing year-on-year, visitor volumes are expected to grow significantly.
Saudi Arabia also has one of the region's most dynamic travel markets driven by domestic tourism in addition to international business and religious tourism. Visitor numbers are forecast to grow 6.7 per cent annually until 2015 and KSA is expected to host to almost 10 million additional visitors over the next four years.
Established in March 2008, flydubai, Dubai's first low cost airline, started operations on June 1, 2009.