It has been announced by Cruise Saudi at this year’s Arabian Travel Market that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is developing its own cruise line, which will provide both luxury and more affordable travel options, allowing GCC residents and tourists to explore Saudi Arabia’s coastal locations.
PIF-sponsored Cruise Saudi has been tasked with developing the brand, which should appeal to young Saudis and residents of other GCC countries. Although neither the name nor the date of the launch have been confirmed, the first of the ships has already been purchased.
Cruise Saudi was established in 2021 to govern and oversee the Kingdom’s cruise sector. It has enjoyed two successful seasons, greeting 50,000-plus passengers and five major international cruise lines, and hopes to recruit more cruise lines and 1.3 million cruise passengers to experience Saudi Arabia by sea by 2035.
The first of the ships has already been purchased
Cruise Saudi’s Chief Asset Manager and Operations Officer, Barbara Buczek, stated that the company is working closely with the PIF to facilitate cruises along the coastlines of many of the giga-projects, including NEOM, Sindalah, Red Sea, and Amaala. “A lot of the companies we work with today are all with PIF. NEOM is a good example. We are actively working with NEOM to help present Sindalah Island to the world, set to open early next year. We’re working closely with them on what cruise guests will require, as well as what infrastructure is needed.”
“We are actively working with NEOM to help present Sindalah Island to the world”
“The ship is there, it’s an exciting time in terms of its name, its branding. The local cruise line will very much target that local market. Seventy-five percent of Saudi’s population is under 35. We need to explore that from a cruise industry perspective. We need to create something for those generations.”