Wizz Air has announced a new service from London to Jeddah, making it the first budget airline to directly connect the UK and Saudi Arabia.
Flights from London Gatwick to the port city on the kingdom’s Red Sea coast begin on March 1 and tickets, costing £134.99 ($176) for a one-way trip, are already on sale. The seven-hour flight, the longest operated by any low-cost airline in the UK, will operate daily via Wizz Air’s new Airbus A321.
The news comes a week after Virgin Atlantic announced a new daily route from Heathrow to Riyadh starting on March 30. And British Airways revealed in May that it will be resuming flights to Jeddah from London Heathrow in November, after a five-year hiatus.
A report released by travel industry data platform OAG on Wednesday ranked Riyadh as the 42nd most connected airport in the world, moving it up six places since last year. That makes it the fourth most connected airport in the Middle East and Africa, behind only Dubai, Doha and Johannesburg. The same report found that the airport is now connected to 117 countries.
Cathay Pacific, meanwhile, announced in June that flights from Hong Kong to Riyadh will start in October and operate three times a week. In April, China Eastern became the first Chinese airline to launch a scheduled service to Saudi Arabia, with three direct flights a week from Shanghai to Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia is also one of the most popular destinations for UAE travellers, thanks to tourists and commuters. Emirates added more services to Saudi Arabia earlier this year and now operates 72 weekly flights, including 22 to Dammam, 21 to Jeddah and Riyadh, and eight to Madinah.
Etihad Airways has been flying from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia for 20 years. It operates 81 weekly flights, including 28 to Riyadh and Jeddah, 21 to Dammam and, since June, four to Al Qassim.
Another new route started last week when Saudi airline Flynas began two new Sharjah services. The budget airline is now flying to Sharjah seven times a week from Jeddah and twice from Madinah.
An eye on India and beyond
India is also getting in on the act. On Wednesday, Air India Express launched a direct weekly flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Riyadh.
In June, Akasa Air began operations from Riyadh. The Indian airline has since added non-stop flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Jeddah. Meanwhile, low-cost airline IndiGo will begin direct daily flights between Bengaluru and Jeddah from September 30.
“Jeddah will be connected to six destinations in India via 49 IndiGo flights a week,” said Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo's head of global sales.
It means that there are now more than 330 direct flights a week between India and Saudi Arabia, operated by eight different airlines.
The rapidly improving connectivity will support Saudi Arabia’s goal of attracting 7.5 million Indian visitors a year by 2030. It is an ambition bolstered this week by the launch of a tourist campaign specifically for the Indian market.
According to Alhasan Aldabbagh, president of APAC Markets at Saudi Tourism Authority, 1.6 million Indians travelled to Saudi in 2023. “India holds an incredibly special place in our hearts and we are committed to making India the number one source market by 2030,” he said.
Earlier this week, the country also launched an international campaign called This Land is Calling. Saudi Arabia opened its doors to wide-scale tourism in 2019 and development since then has been rapid, led by the Red Sea, Neom City and AlUla projects and boosted by new visa initiatives.
New luxury resorts and hotels have opened across the country, including the most expensive hotel in the region, and many more are in the pipeline under the country's Vision 2030 initiative.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s travel sector was worth $17 billion, reflecting a 16 per cent increase on the previous year. That growth has continued this year.
Teams in the EHL
White Bears, Al Ain Theebs, Dubai Mighty Camels, Abu Dhabi Storms, Abu Dhabi Scorpions and Vipers
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The biog
Name: James Mullan
Nationality: Irish
Family: Wife, Pom; and daughters Kate, 18, and Ciara, 13, who attend Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS)
Favourite book or author: “That’s a really difficult question. I’m a big fan of Donna Tartt, The Secret History. I’d recommend that, go and have a read of that.”
Dream: “It would be to continue to have fun and to work with really interesting people, which I have been very fortunate to do for a lot of my life. I just enjoy working with very smart, fun people.”
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
Keane on …
Liverpool’s Uefa Champions League bid: “They’re great. With the attacking force they have, for me, they’re certainly one of the favourites. You look at the teams left in it - they’re capable of scoring against anybody at any given time. Defensively they’ve been good, so I don’t see any reason why they couldn’t go on and win it.”
Mohamed Salah’s debut campaign at Anfield: “Unbelievable. He’s been phenomenal. You can name the front three, but for him on a personal level, he’s been unreal. He’s been great to watch and hopefully he can continue now until the end of the season - which I’m sure he will, because he’s been in fine form. He’s been incredible this season.”
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s instant impact at former club LA Galaxy: “Brilliant. It’s been a great start for him and for the club. They were crying out for another big name there. They were lacking that, for the prestige of LA Galaxy. And now they have one of the finest stars. I hope they can go win something this year.”
