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Riyadh Air Announces Inaugural Flights to London on October 26, Unveils ‘Sfeer’ Loyalty Program

Starting October 26, Riyadh Air will operate daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft, named “Jamila.” (SPA)
Starting October 26, Riyadh Air will operate daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft, named “Jamila.” (SPA)
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Riyadh Air Announces Inaugural Flights to London on October 26, Unveils ‘Sfeer’ Loyalty Program

Starting October 26, Riyadh Air will operate daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft, named “Jamila.” (SPA)
Starting October 26, Riyadh Air will operate daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft, named “Jamila.” (SPA)

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier and a Public Investment Fund company, announced on Wednesday the launch of its first daily flights to London Heathrow Airport, starting October 26. The milestone marks a major step toward achieving full operational readiness and delivering world-class travel experiences.

The airline also unveiled its innovative loyalty program, “Sfeer,” designed to offer exclusive benefits to its early founding members and to redefine the future of loyalty in global aviation, said Riyadh Air in a statement.

Starting October 26, Riyadh Air will operate daily flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft, named “Jamila,” currently serving as the airline’s technical spare. In the initial phase, tickets will be available for select passenger groups and Riyadh Air employees as part of a structured operational program to ensure full readiness ahead of receiving its first new aircraft from Boeing, while also utilizing its newly allocated operational slot at Heathrow Airport.

The inaugural flight RX401 will depart King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh at 3:15 a.m. and arrive at London Heathrow at 7:30 a.m. The return flight RX402 will depart London at 9:30 a.m. and arrive in Riyadh at 7:15 p.m.

This operational phase represents a key milestone in Riyadh Air’s journey, which will soon be followed by additional routes, including Dubai, underscoring the airline’s commitment to excellence. Through comprehensive evaluation of the initial “Jamila” flights, the airline is ensuring world-class readiness and service quality ahead of launching new destinations for the Winter 2025 and Summer 2026 seasons.

Commenting on the milestone, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: “This is more than just the launch of a route, it is the realization of our vision to connect the Kingdom with the world as a driving force of Saudi Vision 2030.”

“Our commitment to begin operations in 2025 is now taking shape. This carefully planned flight program allows us to perfect every operational detail to ensure a seamless, reliable, and world-class travel experience. We are only steps away from full-scale operations, with more destination launches to be announced in the coming weeks,” he added.

Douglas sressed that the new “Sfeer” program combines the Arabic meaning of “Ambassador” with the English word “Sphere,” symbolizing global connection. “Sfeer” enables members to embody Saudi hospitality and represent Riyadh Air internationally. It introduces a unique, community-driven approach to loyalty programs that blends social engagement with innovative digital experiences, allowing members to explore the best of Saudi Arabia.

A distinctive feature of “Sfeer” is its ability to allow members to share Level Points with family and friends, helping them reach higher membership tiers together.

Registration is now open on Riyadh Air’s official website, where early registrants will be granted “Founding Member” status, gaining early access to bookings on Riyadh Air’s first flights and additional exclusive benefits to be announced soon.

The innovative design of “Sfeer” centers on community, enabling members to soon share their points, rewards, and qualified spending with family and friends, reflecting Saudi generosity and collective spirit. By 2026, once fully activated, “Sfeer” will introduce interactive digital challenges, leaderboards, and a “no points expiry” policy, representing a true embodiment of Saudi generosity.

Joining “Sfeer” today grants members immediate benefits and positions them at the forefront of Riyadh Air’s journey. Founding members will enjoy priority booking when commercial flights open for sale and exclusive invitations to special events and experiences.

Over the coming months, all members will have access to unique activities and partnerships with local and international entities, including culinary and entertainment experiences, and opportunities to win free flights and valuable prizes.

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Business

Iraq Says Kurdish Authorities Refusing to Let It Send Oil Through Their Pipeline

A truck drives at the Iraq-Iran border crossing of Bashmagh near Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on March 11, 2026. (AFP)
A truck drives at the Iraq-Iran border crossing of Bashmagh near Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on March 11, 2026. (AFP)
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Iraq Says Kurdish Authorities Refusing to Let It Send Oil Through Their Pipeline

A truck drives at the Iraq-Iran border crossing of Bashmagh near Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on March 11, 2026. (AFP)
A truck drives at the Iraq-Iran border crossing of Bashmagh near Sulaimaniyah in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region on March 11, 2026. (AFP)

Iraq’s oil ministry said the Kurdistan Regional Government had refused to let it use a pipeline as an alternative route for crude flows disrupted by the Iran conflict, accusing authorities there of putting up irrelevant conditions.

A senior Kurdish government official told Reuters authorities there would be happy for the Iraqi government to use the pipeline, but said Baghdad first needed to lift what he called a "dollar ‌embargo" on the ‌region.

"We want a deal. We ‌want ⁠to help Iraq ⁠and bring relief to the markets, but this embargo must end first," the official said.

Oil production from Iraq's main southern oilfields, where most of its crude is produced and exported, has plunged 70% to just 1.3 million bpd, sources told Reuters on March 8, ⁠as the Iran conflict effectively shut off ‌the vital Strait of ‌Hormuz.

Iraq's oil ministry sent a letter in early March to ‌the Kurdistan Regional Government seeking permission to pump ‌at least 100,000 barrels per day of crude from Kirkuk oilfields through the Kurdistan pipeline network to Türkiye's Ceyhan energy hub, two oil officials told Reuters last week.

The Kurdish official ‌said they had been pressing for an end to what he said was ⁠a bar ⁠on the region's banks accessing dollars for goods imported through its borders and airports.

Kurdish officials say tensions with Baghdad have risen after the federal government moved to implement a new electronic customs system, allowing it to monitor imports and revenues, a step the KRG sees as undermining its autonomy and control over trade.

Iraq's oil ministry said the Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Natural Resources had "set a number of conditions unrelated to the issue of crude oil exports."

Business

Over 400 Million Barrels of Emergency Oil Reserves to Flow to Global Markets Soon, IEA Says

A woman holds a fuel pump as she fills her car tank at a gas station in the Manhattan borough of New York City on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
A woman holds a fuel pump as she fills her car tank at a gas station in the Manhattan borough of New York City on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
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Over 400 Million Barrels of Emergency Oil Reserves to Flow to Global Markets Soon, IEA Says

A woman holds a fuel pump as she fills her car tank at a gas station in the Manhattan borough of New York City on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
A woman holds a fuel pump as she fills her car tank at a gas station in the Manhattan borough of New York City on March 14, 2026. (AFP)

Oil from the International Energy Agency emergency reserves will begin flowing to global markets soon, with member countries pledging to make available 411.9 million barrels, ‌the agency ‌said in ‌a ⁠statement on Sunday.

Governments have ⁠committed to make available 271.7 million barrels of oil from government stocks, 116.6 million ⁠barrels from obligated industry ‌stocks ‌and 23.6 million barrels ‌from other sources, the ‌statement said.

It added that 72% of planned releases are in ‌the form of crude oil and 28% ⁠are ⁠oil products.

Stocks from Asia Oceania countries will be available immediately and stocks from Europe and the Americas will be available at the end of March.

Business

Saudi Economy Accelerates as Diversification and Legal Reforms Drive Growth

Quality of life represents a strategic national priority in Saudi Arabia (SPA). 
Quality of life represents a strategic national priority in Saudi Arabia (SPA). 
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Saudi Economy Accelerates as Diversification and Legal Reforms Drive Growth

Quality of life represents a strategic national priority in Saudi Arabia (SPA). 
Quality of life represents a strategic national priority in Saudi Arabia (SPA). 

Saudi Arabia’s economy has undergone nearly a decade of transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as sweeping reforms and diversification efforts reshape the country’s economic landscape.

Since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in April 2016, the Kingdom has embarked on its most significant economic shift in decades. The transformation has extended far beyond fiscal adjustments or limited diversification programs, evolving instead into a broad structural reform aimed at reducing reliance on oil and building a more diverse and dynamic economy.

Economic indicators suggest the strategy is gaining traction. Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose from about SAR 2.6 trillion in 2016 to nearly SAR 4.7 trillion in recent years, roughly $1.3 trillion, according to the latest official figures. That represents an average cumulative annual growth rate of about 8 percent, placing the Kingdom among the fastest-growing major economies globally during this period.

The shift reflects Vision 2030’s broader strategy to expand non-oil industries and widen the country’s production base beyond hydrocarbons.

 

Faisal Al-Fadhel, a legal expert in economic legislation and a member of the board of trustees of the Riyadh Economic Forum, said the reforms launched under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have introduced a more diversified and sustainable economic model.

“Saudi Arabia has moved toward reducing its dependence on oil while expanding promising sectors such as tourism, technology, logistics and advanced industries,” Al-Fadhel told Asharq Al-Awsat. “This approach enhances the resilience of the national economy and increases the attractiveness of the Saudi market for both domestic and foreign investors.”

Recent economic indicators support that assessment. Non-oil activities have recorded strong growth, the private sector’s contribution to GDP has expanded, and foreign direct investment inflows have increased. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has improved its standing in global competitiveness indicators, reinforcing its ambitions to become a regional hub for business and investment.

Al-Fadhel noted that the transformation has also been supported by a broad legislative reform agenda designed to modernize the regulatory environment. Key economic and commercial laws — including the Companies Law, Investment Law, and Bankruptcy Law — have been updated, alongside regulations related to corporate governance, investor protection and competition. The reforms aim to improve transparency, regulatory certainty and the efficiency of the investment environment.

Non-Oil Sectors Lead Growth

One of the most visible outcomes of the economic shift is the rising contribution of non-oil sectors, which now account for 56 percent of GDP. Data show that non-oil activities were the primary driver of real economic growth in 2025.

Saudi Arabia ended 2025 with its strongest growth in two years, with GDP expanding 4.5 percent, according to estimates by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The economy grew 5 percent in the fourth quarter, with all major sectors contributing to the expansion compared with 2024.

Labor Market Changes

The Saudi labor market has also seen notable shifts. Unemployment among Saudi nationals has declined, while female participation in the workforce has reached record levels following a series of labor and regulatory reforms.

More than 2.48 million Saudis have joined the private sector in recent years, reflecting the impact of job localization policies. Economic transformation programs have also generated roughly 800,000 new jobs, with strong growth in engineering professions.

Employment opportunities have expanded particularly in tourism, supported by major entertainment and tourism projects, as well as in the pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing industries, where job numbers have doubled.

Investment at the Center

Investment has become a central pillar of the Kingdom’s economic strategy. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has positioned both domestic and foreign investment as key drivers of growth and diversification.

The government established the Ministry of Investment and launched the National Investment Strategy as a comprehensive framework to boost capital formation. Total investment — measured by fixed capital formation — has risen from about SAR 672 billion in 2017 to roughly SAR 1.44 trillion by the end of 2024, more than doubling in less than a decade.

Al-Fadhel emphasized that the private sector is a critical partner in achieving Vision 2030 goals through expanded investment, technological adoption, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Public Investment Fund Expands Role

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has emerged as a central instrument of the transformation. With assets estimated at SAR 3.47 trillion, it has become one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.

PIF is leading major investments in tourism, renewable energy, industry, technology and entertainment while launching large-scale development projects designed to create new industries and strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a global economic hub.