flynas Becomes First Saudi Airline and First LCC in Middle East to Join World Tourism Organization

flynas' membership in the UNWTO further strengthens the airline's position as one of the top five LCCs in the world. (SPA)
flynas' membership in the UNWTO further strengthens the airline's position as one of the top five LCCs in the world. (SPA)
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flynas Becomes First Saudi Airline and First LCC in Middle East to Join World Tourism Organization

flynas' membership in the UNWTO further strengthens the airline's position as one of the top five LCCs in the world. (SPA)
flynas' membership in the UNWTO further strengthens the airline's position as one of the top five LCCs in the world. (SPA)

flynas, the Saudi national air carrier, has joined the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as an affiliate member, becoming the first Saudi airline in the Middle East to join the organization.

This boosts the leading LCC role to contribute to sustainable global tourism, which aligns with flynas' sustainability strategy and the Kingdom's vision and commitment to shaping the future of the global travel sector.

Affiliate members are an integral part of UNWTO membership, bringing together over 500 companies, educational and research institutions and NGOs to engage in dialogue, share information, and take action with the objective of contributing to sustainable global tourism in which knowledge and innovation are harnessed to promote responsible and competitive tourism, in line with the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the UN principles and objectives.

flynas' membership in the UNWTO further strengthens the airline's position as one of the top five LCCs in the world, adding value in visibility, networking, participation, knowledge, support and cooperation with Tier 1 organizations in the field of tourism.

flynas CEO and Managing Director Bander Almohanna said: "flynas' joining the organization as the first Saudi airline and the first low-cost carrier in the Middle East will reinforce its position as the 4th best low-cost airline in the world."

He pointed out that members' goals coincide with flynas' sustainability plan, which focuses on adopting initiatives with a sustainable impact on the environment, society and the economy, in addition to "its efficient role in shaping the future of global travel and its pioneering role in building a sustainable tourism sector".

"flynas places sustainability at the core of its operations, in line with the Kingdom's goals to reach zero neutrality in greenhouse gas emissions by 2060," Almohanna added.

Flynas's membership in UNWTO comes as Saudi Arabia was selected to host the 26th UNWTO General Assembly in 2025, the first time the Kingdom will host the general assembly of a UN organization, underscoring the country's growing prominence in global tourism.

Last August, flynas joined the United Nations Global Compact, becoming the first airline in Saudi Arabia and the first low-cost airline in the Middle East to join the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.

flynas' outstanding achievements have been recognized, and it received numerous international awards, including Skytrax International Award for Best Low-cost Airline in the Middle East in 2023, for the sixth time in a row and the 4th Best LCC worldwide. It is the highest worldwide award in the aviation sector since its launch in 1999.

Moreover, flynas won the Best Low-cost Airline Award in the Middle East from the World Travel Awards in 2023, for the ninth consecutive time since 2015.



Foreign Start-ups Double in Saudi Market

Saudi Arabia’s LEAP conference becomes top magnet for tech start-ups
Saudi Arabia’s LEAP conference becomes top magnet for tech start-ups
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Foreign Start-ups Double in Saudi Market

Saudi Arabia’s LEAP conference becomes top magnet for tech start-ups
Saudi Arabia’s LEAP conference becomes top magnet for tech start-ups

The number of foreign start‑ups holding Saudi Arabia’s “Riyadi” entrepreneurship license has more than doubled to 550 by mid‑2025, up 118 % from the same period a year earlier, the Investment Ministry said.

The Riyadi permit lets overseas founders launch and scale technology and innovation‑focused companies in the kingdom. Officials say the surge reflects a government push to position Saudi Arabia as the Gulf’s start‑up hub by easing market entry and offering flexible regulation.

The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) has meanwhile issued 364 licenses for business incubators and accelerators, helping international entrepreneurs develop prototypes, find mentors and connect with investors.

Flagship tech gatherings such as Biban and LEAP in Riyadh – along with Saudi delegations to global events including Web Summit, VivaTech and Slush – have burnished the kingdom’s credentials as a magnet for venture capital and talent, the ministry said.

The momentum comes as Riyadh chases the economic‑diversification goals of its Vision 2030 plan. The government is targeting $100 billion a year in foreign direct investment (FDI) by 2030.

Overall investment licensing jumped 67.7 % last year. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia issued 4,615 licenses, up 59.9 % year on year.

Net FDI inflows moderated to 16.0 billion riyals ($4.27 billion) in the third quarter of 2024, 24 % lower than a year earlier but 37 % higher than the previous quarter’s 11.7 billion riyals ($3.12 billion), according to General Authority for Statistics data.

Saudi officials say the Riyadi license is integral to diversifying the economy, fostering innovation and embedding an entrepreneurial culture.