AlUla Airport Starts Receiving International Flights

AlUla International Airport begins receiving international flights. (SPA)
AlUla International Airport begins receiving international flights. (SPA)
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AlUla Airport Starts Receiving International Flights

AlUla International Airport begins receiving international flights. (SPA)
AlUla International Airport begins receiving international flights. (SPA)

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) announced on Thursday the approval of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) for AlUla International Airport to start receiving international flights, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

AlUla Airport has witnessed extensive development projects that included the comprehensive expansion carried out by RCU, transforming it into the fifth largest airport in Saudi Arabia, with a total area estimated at 2.4 million square meters.

RCU has worked to triple the airport’s capacity, and it can now receive 15 commercial flights at the same time. The capacity has increased from 100,000 passengers to 400,000 passengers per year.

The development of AlUla Airport is a key element of RCU's strategy to elevate AlUla to become a global destination for heritage, culture, history and natural tourism, and to enhance its strategic role, to become an important logistical center in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The strategy also aims to attract two million visitors every year to AlUla and contribute to raising the Kingdom's GDP by SR120 million by 2035.



Saudi National Center for Meteorology Warns of Heavy Rain in Makkah

Worshippers are seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah amid rainfall. (SPA)
Worshippers are seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah amid rainfall. (SPA)
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Saudi National Center for Meteorology Warns of Heavy Rain in Makkah

Worshippers are seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah amid rainfall. (SPA)
Worshippers are seen at the Grand Mosque in Makkah amid rainfall. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology warned on Friday of heavy rains in Makkah and Al-Jumum Governorate including the centers of Rahat and Madrakah.

The rain will be accompanied by strong winds, lack of horizontal visibility, hail, torrents, and thunderstorms.

It said the weather conditions will continue until Friday night.

Meanwhile, the General Authority for the Care of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, in cooperation with other government agencies working in the Grand Mosque, intensified cleaning and drying of the Mataf area (circumambulation track) after the rainfall witnessed in Makkah on Thursday to ensure the safety and security of worshippers and Umrah performers.

The authority mobilized more than 200 supervisors and observers, 4,000 workers, and more than 500 pieces of equipment to deal with the rain.

To ensure the thoroughness of the cleaning process, water suction and washing equipment were strategically distributed both inside and outside the Grand Mosque.